She was joined by Goulburn MP Pru Goward who declared she could win the seat again at next year’s election. She has represented the electorate since 2007. 

The visit followed Opposition leader Luke Foley’s launch of Labor candidate Ursula Stephens’ campaign at the site on Thursday.

Ms Goward was set to be endorsed by the Liberal Party at a meeting on Friday night.

She scotched Dr Stephens’ suggestions that the proposed hospital upgrade was a “patch-up job,” with insufficient funds allocated.

“Unlike Labor we do build hospitals and we do know the cost,” she said.

 “Why would we make a commitment we couldn’t keep? What is their history? They should be ashamed of themselves pretending to know the cost of a hospital when they didn’t build one. They had the chance to do it and they didn’t.”

Ms Goward sits on a six per cent margin. She acknowledged she would have to work very hard to hold the seat but told The Post she would win.

“I think the people of Goulburn know I’ve done a good job,” she said, citing “record” road investment, the hospital and Victoria Park upgrades.

Ms Berejiklian met with hospital management, staff and Health infrastructure officials. At a morning tea she also presented a Premier’s Award to BDCU Goulburn Hospital Fundraising Inc president, Ross Stone. Over eight years the foundation has raised about $350,000 for equipment for the facility.

But much of the focus was on the redevelopment, particularly the adequacy of parking. An extra 54 spaces are planned for stage one, a figure the council is questioning.

Ms Goward said Health Infrastructure had done the numbers and judged this to be sufficient. 

“If it becomes clear the hospital is working at more than full capacity we will have to think about additional parking, but again, the experts know what is involved and they will be the ones to test that,” she said.

The MP said more parking could be needed with population increase but the community would not be left short.

Both Ms Goward and the Premier committed to stage two, for which they had seen preliminary plans. Ms Berejiklian said funding would be available once planning for that phase was done.

“We don’t make a $120m investment without planning for the future,” the Premier said.

“...There isn’t a single person I’ve spoken to this morning that isn’t really excited about this development, whether it’s staff or people in the community. I (also) urge the council to focus on the big picture (rather than just parking).

“Our government is committed to this hospital but also making sure Goulburn gets its fair share of our resources because we’ve worked really hard to get our budget in the black. It’s time to share that with the community.”

Southern NSW Health District CEO Andrew Newton told The Post that early “enabling works” were underway, replacing power, sewerage and stormwater infrastructure in preparation for the major build.

The Department of Planning and Environment is yet to approve the development application for the four-storey building. It will house an emergency department, medical imaging, a maternity and birthing unit, special care nursery and paediatrics inpatient unit, rehabilitation/geriatric evaluation management unit, inpatient surgical, perioperative, intensive care, medical and palliative care units and ambulance bays.

Mr Newton said meetings would continue with the council regarding parking and with the community about more general issues related to the project.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of hospital infrastructure projects and I can assure the community there will be sufficient car parks before, during and after construction to ensure easy access is maintained to services.”

Demolition of buildings, including Springfield House and Lady Grose House, is expected to begin later this year.