Geoff Helisma
At the April 26 council meeting, Clarence Valley’s councillors were unanimous in their support of mayor Ian Tiley’s mayoral minute, to continue its advocation for the NSW Government to fulfil its 2019 election promise, to complete the planned upgrade of Grafton Base Hospital.
Clarence Valley Council (CVC) has previously written to the government and its relevant representatives in April 2020 and March 2021, advocating the government making good on its promise.
Funding the upgrade was a key part of Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis’s election campaign – in October 2018, Mr Gulaptis was joined by then mayor, Jim Simmons, Northern NSW Local Health District Board member and chair of the Grafton Base Hospital Medical Staff Council, Dr Allan Tyson, director of ICU, Dr Andrew White, and a range of other community and business leaders at the campaign launch, held at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Grafton Base Hospital Community Committee (GBHC) began a campaign in June 2020 – Where’s The Money Premier – part of which involved creating a banner (pictured) in order to publicly hold the government, its leader and the local member to account.
Mayor Tiley said in a CVC media release, “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.”
Mr Gulaptis said he has had regular conversations with the minister and others about the hospital’s redevelopment.
“I’ve had every indication from the minister and the government that the commitment will be honoured,” he told the Independent.
“I thank the council, the hospital committee and the community for uniting with me for a common cause, to have a new hospital in Grafton, which is what everybody wants.
“It’s achievable when we all want the same outcome.”
On how much the estimated $263.8million cost of development had increased since 2019, Mr Gulaptis said that the figure would be revealed on the day that the 2021/22 budget is released.
Councillors resolved to “strongly support the Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment project and lobby the NSW Premier, Minister for Health and Member for Clarence, to ensure that redevelopment funding will be included in the next NSW state budget … so that the government’s commitment that construction will commence prior to the 2023 election will be honoured”.
CVC’s media release states that Cr Tiley and acting general manager Laura Black met with GCHC members Ron Bell and Des Harvey in late February – Mr Bell made a deputation to councillors prior to last weeks’ CVC meeting.
“It is acknowledged with gratitude that the state Member for Clarence has been working closely with the committee on this redevelopment project,” Cr Tiley said in CVC’s media release.
“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.”