Despite the impending demolition of the nurses’ quarters, issues and questions remain.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NSW Health Infrastructure project director Amanda Bock confirmed they are planning on salvaging parts of the building to give back to the community, as per a request made by Save Griffith Nurses’ Quarters Sherene Blumer.
“There has been a request quite early on from Mrs Blumer to salvage a bunch of materials. We did say yes, we’d assist with that,” she said.
Ms Bock says some materials – including doors, floors, mantlepieces, bricks – and would be salvaged, others would be “weighed up against the cost”.
She confirmed NSW Health was still assessing its options with regard to how parts will be donated to the community.
“Despite a campaign from a passionate group of community members, the NSW Department of Health announced recently it would “proceed with demolition in order to achieve the best outcome for local patients”.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Member for Murray Austin Evans had previously paused demolition works, asking the community for alternatives – but said the building was “financially unviable”.
Mrs Blumer says she asked the items be salvaged, as a last resort for her campaign, to be able to retain a little history.
“I asked for parts to be salvaged as a last resort. I have been the president of Neighbourhood House, so I figured than lose things from our community, I’d like to have some elements of what we used to have,” she said.
Her proposal included a way for parts of the building to be salvaged if it were to go.
“The best way to have those would be to put them into our new community centre. It could help lower the cost of the building and portray to the public what we used to have.”
After the removal of asbestos, Ms Bock estimated the building’s demolition will begin in around a month.
Despite the decision to move ahead with demolition, Mrs Blumer says she hasn’t stopped fighting. She and the group maintain the building is a site of “historical and cultural significance” for the Griffith community.
“I’m still pursuing different avenues. I don’t believe the building should be demolished,” she said.
“The main thing we’ve asked is that we have public consultation, we want to have a public meeting.”
See our full timeline of events:
- FEBRUARY 16 2018: Fight to save the Nurses Quarters from being demolished
- FEBRUARY 26 2018: MLHD releases findings of review into population projections
- MARCH 13 2018: Blumer’s backing people power in Nurses Quarters fight
- MAY 1 2018: Community to help in the fight to save the nurses quarters
- MAY 6 2018: Save Nurses Quarters debate divides Griffith
- MAY 10 2018: Hope in sight for Nurses Quarters building: Hazzard considers pausing
- MAY 21 2018: Second community meeting in response: the nurses quarters building
- MAY 29 2018: Hazzard close lipped on nurses' quarters
- JUNE 7 2018: Save the Nurses' Quarters vs. MLHD
- JUNE 12 2018: An alternative to demolishing the nurses quarters has officially been put forward
- JUNE 14 2018: Murrumbidgee Local Health District thank community for input
- JUNE 22 2018: Barilaro’s commits to new hospital funding at mid-year budget review