That’s how Deputy Premier John Barilaro described the $189 million allocated in the budget for Griffith Base Hospital redevelopment.

He hit back at claims by the Griffith Business Chamber and Save the Griffith Base Hospital (SGBH) committee this was “just another vague pre-election promise.”

Flanked by Member for Murray Austin Evans and mayor John Dal Broi in Griffith on Wednesday, he made it clear the money could be used immediately if necessary.

“This isn’t a political stunt - it is in the budget, it is in the bank, it is ready to go,” Mr Barilaro declared.

Local Health Advisory chairwoman Margaret King welcomed the statement whole-heartedly.

”Many of us have been fighting for decades – not just two years – to get better health services in Griffith, so to have this money confirmed is amazing,” Mrs King said.

SGBH committee member Brendan Catanzariti called for a timeframe on the delivery of the money at the initial release of the budget review, and despite no specific dates outlined it was explained this money would be available “when needed”.

Murrumbidgee Local Health District CEO Jill Ludford confirmed the master plan’s completion, and said while stage one was still ongoing - with an expected completion in 2020 – having this money accessible will allow planning for stage two to be “locked in”.

With Business Chamber president Pat Pittavino renewing calls for the return of orthopedic services – absent from the base for a number of years – Ms Ludford said this would be included in the new acute services hub.

“Initially we will be introducing a fracture clinic and then slowly building up services… We are now working in collaboration with the doctors here to get that [recruitment] in place,” Ms Ludford said.

Mr Barilaro did pointedly explain that if another party, namely Labor, is elected in the upcoming state elections the money could be “repurposed” if not used.

However Councillor Dal Broi said for any other elected party to do so in reality would be “political suicide.”

“This is something the Griffith as a community has been working extremely hard towards for a long time, and we are thrilled to have this money finally here,” Cr Dal Broi said.

“If another party gets in after the election and takes that money away from us it will be political suicide - this is what the community not just wants but needs. And now we have it.”

Member for Murray Austin Evans said he knew what the Griffith community needed when he took on the political caper, and said it was a “proud moment” to see it delivered.

“This is a great day for the Griffith community and we can now get on with the job of building a hospital that our community deserves,” Mr Murray said.

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