In a breakfast meeting on Tuesday morning, business, local government, community, and health representatives met with key members of Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) and the project planning team to discuss the Master Plan for the hospital redevelopment.

Mayor John Dal Broi and Member for Murray Austin Evans expressed their enthusiasm for the meeting’s results, while Brendan Catanzariti from Save the Griffith Base Hospital and President of the Griffith Business Chamber Paul Pierotti came away with fresh concerns surrounding the allotment of future funding.

The purpose of the meeting was to move forward into the next phase of Stage one development discussing the Master Plan –  the next phase in the Stage One development.

Project architect Andrew Kemp said this involves doing preliminary enabling works, creating some enhanced facilities for existing services and preparing the site for redevelopment to occur, which will be stage two.

“We now have a demountable building that is being refurbished for the renal unit,” Mr Kemp said.

“That will enable the renal unit to be relocated from its current location, and will provide enhanced services so not only are we moving the existing facility but providing increased facilities at a higher level of standard for both patients and the staff.”

The project team are now looking to start preparing the hospital site to enable the major redevelopment to occur. 

“We are also working on the oncology unit that is in sub-standard space,” Mr Kemp said.

“If we can provide some interim services for those then we can get that site ready for the next stage.”

The proposed scope for the $35 million for Stage One developments includes:

MLHD Director of Operations Brett Thompson felt the meeting went “pretty well,” with issues surrounding community consultation and nurses quarters demolition discussed along with the main focus on Master Plan logistics.

“It was a good opportunity to present the master plan and the process thoroughly,” Mr Thompson said.

“I think the general feedback from the people was they seemed reasonably comfortable about what is being proposed and why.”

Mayor John Dal Broi said personally he was very pleased with how the meeting unfolded.

“What I am seeing now is a close working cooperation between a community private hospital and a new base hospital in Griffith,” Cr Dal Broi said.

Brendan Catanzariti from the Save Griffith Base Hospital Plan agreed the meeting was positive, however was concerned about future funding.

“One thing that concerns me was nobody has come out with the full funding,” Mr Catanzariti said.

“I understand it’s not a fault on MLHD’s part, they have got their guidelines from the health department, but I believe all was are going to get in this budget is the $35 million as promised, but the full funding for the project is yet to receive a timeline.”

President of Griffith Business Chamber Paul Pierotti also had similar concerns surrounding the funding of the hospital, however member for Murray Austin Evans said he is pushing, as promised, for funding figures.

RELATED:

“While the Stage One development will use the $35 million, funding for the next stages has been promised,” Mr Evans said.

“I have been meeting with the Deputy Premier, the Health Minister and the Treasurer to make sure we get the exact numbers for the future development stages,” Mr Evans said.

Mr Thompson said future stages of work for the GBH Redevelopment will be considered as part of usual Government planning and budget process.

Mr Thompson said going forward, community consultation will become more open than in the recent past, with many chances in the near future for members of the public to receive clear information, have the chance to ask questions as well as have their say.

“We will do things in a different way than what we have done before, including more community consultation,” Mr Thompson said.

“I think our process needs to be bringing people along, communicating what and why we do things, and when you start to see momentum and people understand it’s not all doom and gloom… that's when you start to get that reward and people get on board.”

The preferred option for the Master Plan will be online Wednesday May 16, and will be presented in two pop-up shops in Griffith on Friday May 25 and Saturday May 26 to seek feedback.

“I think if you are trying to do the right thing for the right reasons it’s hard to criticize people for that,” Mr Thompson said.

While you’re with us, you can now receive updates straight to you inbox every Monday at 6am from The Area News. To make sure you’re up to date with all news in Griffith sign up here.