A public hospital for Forster Tuncurry was a major talking point in the lead-up to the State election, but whether we'll see one in the next four years remains unclear.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A single half-sentence addressing the subject was mentioned in the health cluster of the June 18 State Budget: "Progress planning for the Forster-Tuncurry facilities."
While the term 'facilities' appears alarmingly ambiguous, member for the Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead, is adamant a public hospital will be delivered to the people of the Great Lakes.
"It's an election commitment," he said.
"We committed to it in the campaign."
Mr Bromhead said the first step in the process involved coming up with a clinical services plan, which would determine what services would be required and included at the facility.
He confirmed he would meet with Hunter New England Health to begin this process shortly.
While no money has been assigned to the project in this year's Budget, Mr Bromhead said he would hope to see funding allocated in future budgets for continued progress on the hospital.
But when the hospital will be delivered is anybody's guess.
"There are a lot of ifs, buts and maybes that need to be worked out," Mr Bromhead said.
"I would like to see it up and operating in the next term.
"But the most important thing is the government has committed to it."
Labor spokesperson for the Myall Lakes, Courtney Houssos, believed this was not the most important thing, but rather an indication that a public hospital would not be delivered to the people of the Great Lakes in this term of government.
"I'm not confident given all they've committed to is planning," she said.
Ms Houssos argued that while the budget only outlined spending for the next 12 months, the coalition had said they were being open and transparent with their plans for the next four years, and that nowhere in those plans was there any mention of a public hospital being delivered to the people of the Great Lakes.
"They (the people of the Great Lakes) have every right to be disappointed and feel misled," she said.
Mr Bromhead disagreed.
"I think the people of the Great Lakes are excited that the government has listened to them," he said.
"They're excited it's happening."
Related:
Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Great Lakes Advocate newsletter here.