She has also defended the planning process.

“Over the coming months, the Southern NSW Local Health District will work with Health Infrastructure to determine the priority services and facilities that are required in line with the allocated funding,” she said in a statement.

“This is a significant redevelopment that requires extensive planning and consultation to ensure that it services the needs of the Goulburn community now and into the future.

“The commitment to invest $120 million to redevelop Goulburn Hospital will be honoured within this term of government.”

She said there would always be “negative people” in a community but most understood that hospitals took time to plan and build.

Ms Goward did not respond specifically to questions on why both a preliminary and final business plan were needed and their more than year-long completion.

“We want the best hospital that money can buy that meets the need of the Goulburn region,” she said.

“The NSW Government is strongly committed to community and stakeholder consultation which takes time but is, in the end, worth it.

“On our record in our first term of government, every hospital we promised we have delivered. I have no doubt there will be the same results in our second term.”

Ms Goward said she didn’t blame people for being concerned given that Labor promised hospitals, roads and railways but “never delivered.”

Health Infrastructure NSW didn’t respond to questions about the planning process by the time of going to press.