From left: Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor Liz Innes; NSW Member for Bega Andrew Constance; Russell Schneider AM, board member Southern NSW Local Health District; Dr Michael Holland; Margaret Bennett, chief executive Southern NSW Local Health District; and Lisa Kennedy, general manager Eurobodalla Health Service. Photo: Alex Rea.
An extra $50 million has been pledged by the NSW Government for the new Eurobodalla Hospital in Moruya.
NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard said extensive community consultation has resulted in a Clinical Services Plan for the new first-class regional hospital.
“A site is being selected for the new hospital in consultation with stakeholders and will consider a range of factors, including accessibility, proximity to local infrastructure and environmental impacts,” he said.
The site selection process will commence shortly. Initial investigations show that areas north of Moruya or southeast of Moruya are the most likely areas for the new hospital to be built.
Sites in these two areas are being explored, with consideration to key criteria such as road access, ensuring linkage to the future Moruya bypass, avoiding flood and bushfire zones, and ensuring close proximity to Moruya Airport.
Moruya’s Dr Michael Holland has been a dedicated campaigner for Eurobodalla Hospital. Photo Alex Rea.
NSW Member for Bega Andrew Constance was in Moruya on Thursday, 11 June, to announce the additional funding. He said the total $200 million investment will ensure a sustainable, modern purpose-built facility that supports the community’s needs.
“The new Eurobodalla Hospital will utilise the latest healthcare solutions and models of care to deliver patient-centred health services closer to home,” said Mr Constance.
“This additional funding will deliver a health facility for the local community which is adaptable and resilient against future climatic events such as the devastating bushfires during the past summer.
“Our residents and healthcare workers deserve the best, and that is what we’re going to deliver for our region.
“The $200 million investment for construction will see the Eurobodalla receive one of the highest funded regional hospital projects in the state.
“The proposed sites are within the Moruya area, providing easy links to Batemans Bay, Narooma and surrounding villages, with Health Infrastructure NSW to commence discussions with land owners and adjoining land holders.
“I’m excited about what this means for our region, and the benefits this amazing facility will offer residents and our health and allied health staff.”
Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor Liz Innes said that after a tumultuous start to the year, this announcement couldn’t come at a better time.
Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor Liz Innes with NSW Member for Bega Andrew Constance. Photo: Alex Rea.
“This new hospital will mean so much for our communities who have endured the worst that nature has to offer,” she said. “Our residents deserve this new facility and I look forward to seeing it evolve.”
As part of the planning process, Health Infrastructure NSW is working closely with Southern NSW Local Health District and other government agencies, including Transport for NSW and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
The NSW Government has invested $10 billion on health infrastructure since 2011, with an additional $10.1 billion during the four years from 2019-20, including more than $900 million for rural and regional areas in 2019-20.
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