Clarence Valley Council will lobby the NSW Premier, Minister for Health and Member for Clarence to ensure that funding for the Grafton Base Hospital Redevelopment will be included in the next NSW State budget.
Mayor Ian Tiley put forward a Mayoral Minute at the Ordinary Council Meeting at Maclean Council Chambers on 26 April to obtain Council's support to advocate alongside the Grafton Community Hospital Committee for the funding.
"The Clinical Services plan has been completed and the Master Plan is being developed. It is vital, given the June 2022 State budget will be the final of this government's term, that the building stage will be funded in the forthcoming budget," Mayor Tiley said.
"This would allow the commitment made by Hon Chris Gulaptis on 5 March 2019, prior to the State election that month, that construction will commence prior to the 2023 State election."
In late February, Mayor Tiley and Council's Acting General Manager Laura Black met with Grafton Community hospital Committee members Ron Bell and Des Harvey, and were informed of the committee's endeavours to secure funding for the hospital redevelopment.
The committee has actively lobbied for hospital improvements for more than 30 years and been successful in securing several projects including the new operating theatres, the refurbished emergency department and the Ambulatory Care Unit.
"It is acknowledged with gratitude that the State Member for Clarence has been working closely with the committee on this redevelopment project," Mayor Tiley said.
"As a community we cannot allow the hospital redevelopment plan to stall, and it is appropriate that Council, as the civic leaders of the Clarence Valley, support this vital initiative."
At the meeting Cr Debrah Novak said she was the patron for the United Hospital Auxiliary - Grafton Branch, who she understood were supportive of the Grafton Community Hospital Committee's advocacy for the funding.
"It's been a long time coming, setting this hospital up to world class standards," Cr Novak said. "Some of it now is, but some parts are not fit for purpose."
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the motion to strongly support and lobby for the redevelopment project.
