The delivery of the NSW Government's 2020-2021 Budget on Tuesday revealed Forster is set to share in $5.8 million to deliver new and upgraded Aboriginal Housing in the Hunter region, but a dollar figure has not been allocated for the proposed Forster Public Hospital.
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On Friday, November 13, member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead announced that Forster-Tuncurry would be one of four hospitals to share in a $7.9 million pool of planning money in the upcoming budget.
However, in the regional highlights for the Hunter region within the Regional NSW Budget Paper, it states: "Planning for the Forster-Tuncurry health facility and the John Hunter Hospital car park."
The Great Lakes Advocate reached out to Mr Bromhead for clarification on this point and was told that NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard had advised that Forster-Tuncurry would share in the planning pool.
"We have been advised by the minister's office that these four (sic) hospitals are sharing in $7.9 million dollars," a spokesperson for Mr Bromhead said.
The other four townships listed alongside Forster-Tuncurry for progress planning for health infrastructure commitments are Grafton, Gunnedah, Ryde and Moree.
Interestingly, unlike Forster-Tuncurry, all four of these townships have existing hospitals in place.
Mr Bromhead also said on Friday that the clinical services plan for the Lower Mid North Coast region had been completed; however, that comment stood in contrast to a recent statement from Hunter New England Health.
On Thursday, November 12, a spokesperson for the organisation said the clinical services plan was yet to be endorsed by NSW Health and it was unlikely to be endorsed before the new year.
Asked about this, Mr Bromhead said "the clinical services plan is in the ministry of health and from that, this announcement - fantastic news, money in the budget for detailed planning".
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Mr Bromhead's announcement that $1.5 million would be made available for the commencement of stage two of the Manning Base Hospital redevelopment was supported in the Budget.
The $100 million project promises to deliver expanded and upgraded inpatient accommodation, refurbished operating theatres, a new critical care unit and new recovery beds, as well as a new day surgery unit.
Regarding the Aboriginal Housing announcement, Mr Bromhead said $485,000 would be spent on projects in Forster over the next 12 months.
"Funds are also flowing for social housing to both upgrade and new supply," Mr Bromhead said.
MidCoast Council will also receive $10.4 million in the next 12 months to help safeguard against drought.
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