SHE'S kept it under wraps for months and just yesterday made the announcement set to change the pace of Goulburn’s state election campaign.
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But, Goulburn MP Pru Goward insists the $120 million redevelopment of Goulburn Base Hospital is not a ploy to win votes.
"This isn't being rebuilt because we want to buy votes, this is being rebuilt because this is what has got to happen," Ms Goward said.
"That hospital is worn out. We have a community that deserves and needs a decent hospital.
“We have strong regional growth, we have low unemployment levels which we've had for some time and now we need a hospital that supports that growth."
The announcement, made yesterday morning alongside NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner at the hospital site, will see $120m pulled from the NSW Forward Capital Works fund.
Mrs Skinner labelled the issue as a “hot potato”.
“This I know has been a hot potato locally for a very long time,” the Health Minister quipped.
“The last time I walked through here it was very clear that this hospital has done a brilliant job the many, many years it has been here but it needs redevelopment…
“The upgrade of Goulburn Hospital will include improved capacity through fit-for-purpose infrastructure including the emergency department, intensive care unit and theatres, inpatient services and a comprehensive ambulatory care service.
“Planning will continue over the coming months to identify what other services could be incorporated into the redevelopment.”
It hasn’t been determined whether the “upgrade” would be a refurbishment of the existing site, or the construction of a new facility at another location.
Mrs Skinner couldn’t estimate a development timeframe. Instead, she said work would commence next term under Coalition leadership.
She clarified that while the funding was dependant on the Baird Government being re-elected; it was not reliant on the result of the Goulburn election.
“Of course Pru has been a champion of this build so I’d be very disappointed if that wasn’t recognised by the voting constituents.”
Mrs Skinner gave a firm “no” when questioned whether the funding would be sourced from the lease of the state’s poles and wires.
“We are now playing catch-up with this hospital,” she said.
“This hospital has provided fantastic care over many many years and I now want to pay tribute as Pru does to the staff here.
“To the doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, management of the hospital who have all done very well.”
Ms Goward believed the funding allocation to be the single largest investment from the Government to Goulburn in history.
“Goulburn Hospital is a strong thread in the fabric of our community,” she said.
“It is where we have welcomed new life and farewelled loved ones and I could not be prouder we are committing to its major redevelopment today,” she said.
Further afield in the Goulburn electorate, Mrs Skinner and Ms Goward also yesterday announced $11.7 million toward boosting health services in Yass.
Eight million of this would go towards the construction of a multi-purpose service and the remaining $3.7 million to a new ambulance station.