NURSE STRINGS ATTACHED
This man wants to gift $2.5m of farm land to end the row over where to build a $540m hospital. But Nimbys are rejecting it because they don’t want highrises in the town
ALAN McIntosh wants to donate this 12ha of prime land to taxpayers so they can build a badly needed new hospital in the Tweed.
However, a small group of Kingscliff protesters is against it because it does not want highrises.
ALAN McIntosh has spent half a century in Kingscliff.
He has raised his family in the small NSW coastal village, run a business and led the Apex club and chamber of commerce.
Now he wants to make his greatest contribution.
In a bid to end the row over where to build the new $543 million Tweed Valley Hospital, Mr McIntosh is offering a multimillion-dollar parcel of prime land — for absolutely nothing.
He says he is tired of the long-running stoush between council, some residents and the NSW Government, who are at odds about building the much-needed hospital up the road on Cudgen Road.
A new facility is badly needed to replace the 220bed Tweed Hospital. Doctors in the emergency department last week said the hospital was regularly stretched and pop-up theatres were being brought in ease the strain.
“Because of all the controversy I fear they might lose the site all together and take the project away from Kingscliff,” said Mr McIntosh of wanting to gift 12ha of land on Tweed Coast Road.
Real estate experts said the recent sale of 10ha in the area fetched $2.2m, meaning Mr McIntosh’s block is valued around $2.5m.
“I have cancer so I know how important it is to have these facilities,” said Mr Mcintosh, 77.
“I thought I am probably more fortunate than others and while I am still on the planet, why don’t I give something back to the community that has supported me?
“I just didn’t want to lose the funding for a hospital that will provide for the whole of the coast, so this is one way to fix the problem in urgent need of a solution.
Unlike the Cudgen Rd site, Mr McIntosh’s property is not classified as state significant farm land and he said his block would not create traffic issues.
“They put the cart before the horse when it came to naming that spot. Whatever your view you should be treating people with respect. You can’t force things on people.”
However, a group opposed to the NSW Government’s preferred Cudgen Rd site say Mr McIntosh’s pledge should be rejected because it will set a development precedent.
“It is a very generous offer, I know it isn’t designated farm land but I am worried it will set a precedent,” said Barbara Roughan, of the Relocate Tweed Valley Hospital From State Significant Farmland group.
“I believe it will be open slather and those near it will be able to have the land rezoned for development and height. The whole area goes.
“The people of Kingscliff have fought a battle to keep the town at three levels for years. We are against having a highrise in town.
State Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said he rejected the domino development concerns.
“Each development application is up for rezoning on its on merit. Suggesting otherwise is spreading misinformation and fear.
“I can say under the current laws this is not the case, the concerns were the same for the Tafe but it has been there alone since the ’90s.”
Mr Provest said he had asked Health Infrastructure to consider the viability of Mr McIntosh’s property.
“I think it is an extraordinarily generous multimillion-dollar offer for the wider community,” he said.
Nominations for an alternative hospital site remain open until Thursday, June 14.