Almost $15 million will be allocated towards the $263.8 million Grafton Base Hospital (GBH) redevelopment over the next 12 months after NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey handed down the NSW State Budget for 2024-25 last week.

Member for Clarence Richie Williamson said the Budget papers “lock in the redevelopment with $14.7 million in the coming financial year, and $222.2 million over the next four years.”

“This Sydney-based Labor Government is cutting regional investment left, right, and centre, so this is a really big win we have achieved, and thanks to the Clarence Valley community uniting to help me keep the project on track,” he said.

Mr Williamson said the government concedes the GBH redevelopment will support timely access to healthcare and improve patient outcomes and experience.

He also reiterated the key features of the project which include the expansion of the emergency department, the co-location of services to support better patient access and staff workflows, as well as additional beds and clinical support services.

“We are still in the planning and design stages right now,” he revealed.

“The big bucks come when construction starts, but there is no stopping this Liberals and Nationals Government initiative now.

“It’s important we provide the infrastructure and healthcare services to meet the growing and changing needs of the local community as well as provide a safe and modern work environment to attract and strengthen the workforce to meet future demand.”

Mr Williamson said the funding in the NSW State Budget for 2024-25 is very welcome, and a very important step in the positive progress in the GBH redevelopment.

Mr Williamson also said community and stakeholder input is an essential part of planning the redevelopment of GBH, and he looks forward to providing updates throughout all stages, which includes feedback from the local community.

The nominated target completion date for the GBH redevelopment is 2030.

Following the handing down of the NSW State Budget for 2024-25 last week, the Clarence Valley Independent contacted the Grafton Base Hospital Community Committee (GBHCC) who provided a statement for publication in response to the aforementioned commitment of $14.7 million towards the highly-anticipated project.

“After ten years of frustrations and broken political promises, last week’s Budget has given some hope to the GBHCC,” the statement read.

“Commencing in 2015, this committee and other members of the community before them, have met regularly with the medical fraternity and politicians to prosecute this important redevelopment.

“At that time the Health Department identified many needed facilities including additional operating theatres and beds that would include services such as Urology, MRI scanners, and the upgrade of the Emergency and X-Ray Department at a cost of $263.8million, and plans were developed.

“Much inaction occurred until March 5, 2019, when the government announced that ‘construction would commence in that term’, a reference to March 2023.

“Obviously, this deadline passed without any obvious action, other than $1million allocated in early 2023 for further planning.

“The next milestone was the October 19, 2023, State Budget when $8.23million was announced for more planning.

“In last week’s State Budget, $14.7million was allocated for even more planning which included money previously allocated but not spent in the previous allocation.

“However, as a first, the Budget this time included forward planned expenditure of $222.2 million that would see construction completed by 2028.

“Over the last ten years, building costs have significantly escalated and the identified needed and costed services are no longer able to be funded within the original $263.8million.

“This is a great disappointment to the GBHCC, and our local community, who for years have been forced to travel great distances for medical services often with family support at considerable personal cost.

“It is yet to be determined which services health authorities had originally determined to be essential, but now no longer will be provided by 2028.

“Over the next few years, these temporarily postponed services will be available in Stages 2 and 3, which will occur sometime in the future.

“Whilst the committee applaud the further funding, they also encourage the community to ensure our political leaders continue to support and develop our local health services.

“There are also discrepancies in population projections which need investigation because the Clarence Valley has already surpassed some that were not to occur until 2040.” 

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 26 June 2024.