Approvals sought for new Tweed hospital

NORTHERN New South Wales Local Health District Acting Chief Executive Lynne Weir has welcomed a major milestone in the Tweed Valley Hospital planning process, with the project lodging a request for environmental assessment requirements.

“I’m delighted to receive reports that progress is being made on the planning studies and submissions required to secure the necessary approvals to commence early works before the end of the year,” she said.

The request for Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements from the Department of Planning & Environment comes as consultation for the project continues to increase.

Meetings of the project’s Council Reference Group and Consumer and Community Reference Panel have been held during the past fortnight.

The request for SEARs identifies the planning pathway for the project, which is a staged State Significant Development application including: ● Seeking approval for the hospital concept and consent to begin early and enabling works on site, and seeking approval for the design, construction and commissioning of the Tweed Valley Hospital itself.

● An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared to support the Stage 1 application for the early and enabling works. A separate EIS will be prepared to assess any impacts associated with building the hospital itself, which will be subject to a second State Significant Development application.

The NSW Government’s $582 million investment in the Tweed-Byron region will deliver a state-of-the-art hospital on a greenfield site, as well as interim upgrades at The Tweed Hospital. Works on site will begin as soon as site acquisition and planning approvals are in place.