Price to pay if new hospital site is moved

ANY change of site for a proposed $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital will lead to delays, says the department responsible for the project.

NSW Health Infrastructure, the body tasked with building a new hospital to replace the ageing Tweed Hospital, says project planning and costs would have to be reconsidered if the controversial Cudgen farming land site near Kingscliff is changed.

“Should a viable alternative site be identified, the broader program will be revisited and associated costs will be considered,” a spokesman said.

But if the 2023 deadline was to be met, work to prepare the controversial sweet potato farmland would continue, despite a community consultation process.

The six-week consultation was announced by the NSW Government yesterday in response to protests over the plan to build on agricultural land.

“This consultation process can be accommodated within the current program, with a range of due diligence and planning activities continuing for the proposed site to provide further information on, and confirmation of, the risks, opportunities and time frames for comparison against any alternative sites that are put forward,” a spokesman said.

Residents were invited to lodge submissions on the Kingscliff site and nominate alternatives.

Expressions of interest last year led to investigation of more than 35 sites in the area.

Tweed residents who use the existing hospital were adamant yesterday a new facility was needed soon.

A beekeeper who told the Bulletin he frequently used the proposed site for his hives had reservations about the selected site, but said a new hospital was needed.

“It is an agricultural area. There are other options,” Bayard Martin said.

“We need a hospital, though. This one (in Tweed Heads) is just not big enough.”

Another resident, Kevin Carroll, said the hospital had to go where it was needed.

“I think it is great it is in Kingcliff. The whole point is to go to a growing area, (but) ultimately, wherever you put something, someone isn't going to be happy” Mr Carroll said.

Tweed resident Colleen Mills said an established group was opposed to the new site.

“My only issue would be if they closed down the existing hospital entirely.”

The current program anticipates the new hospital will be completed in 2022 and operational in 2023.