While members of the community plan ideas to reusing the nurses quarters building, they call upon Minister for Health Brad Hazzard to visit Griffith and discuss concerns with them “face-to-face.”
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Despite these voices, Mr Hazzard is closed-lipped on the building’s future, indicating a review is underway and will comment after consideration of alternative proposals is completed.
Resident Sherene Blumer, who has been actively fighting to save the Nurses’ Quarters from demolition, says Mr Hazzard needs to come and look at the building for himself, and speak to the community members about their concerns.
“It’s what we’ve wanted all along: proper community consultation,” Mrs Blumer said.
She is working on her alternative proposal, and has expanded it to include the main hospital base as well, in the hopes to prevent services moving to what she calls “unacceptable” temporary buildings, a plan which she will make available to the public as well.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Murray electorate spokesperson Helen Dalton says the government is “selling their souls” for a car park.
“They are treating us like second-class citizens and it’s not on,” Ms Dalton said.
“Minister Hazzard needs to face the people. It’s our health, it’s our infrastructure, and we deserve to have our voices heard.”
Mr Hazzard declined to comment when approached by The Area News to ascertain whether he was considering visiting Griffith.
Following representations by local MP Austin Evans, Minister Brad Hazzard has agreed to a three week extension for community proposals on health-related usage of the former Nurses’ Accommodation at Griffith Base Hospital.
The deadline for proposals meeting the criteria is Friday June 8.
Council walk-through
Griffith Councillors are looking to become more aware of the issues surrounding the building, with Cr Paul Snaidero requesting access to the building for a walk-through at last week’s Council meeting.
It was resolved the General Manager contact the State Government Health Department to make arrangements for Councillors and Senior Staff to inspect the Nurses’ Quarters located on the grounds of Griffith Base Hospital.
The request for a walk-through was granted and an inspection was held on Friday for Councillors’ information, and a number of Councillors and Senior Staff attended and were guided by senior project and construction staff, as well as General Manager of Griffith Health Service Dr Elizabeth Harford.
Acting General Manager Max Turner said “no further views, comments or actions have been advised at this point.”
Cr Snaidero said for him, the walk-through showed a building in better repair than what he had been led to believe.
“I believe Council hadn’t been fully informed, and myself and the sentiment expressed by other Councillors was that we were quite surprised at the condition of the building,” Cr Snaidero said.
“I have a very nostalgic bone in my body, and I don’t want to see Griffith’s history go underneath the wrecking ball.”