Healthy build time Tweed hospital start before year end

CONSTRUCTION will start on the main new Tweed Valley Hospital building at Cudgen before the end of the year, the NSW Government has revealed.

The $500 million hospital is “on track” to be finished before the end of 2022, a NSW Government-issued newsletter confirms.

The NSW Government has also provided some clarity about the future of health services at Tweed Heads, the location of the outdated Tweed Hospital.

Northern NSW Local Health District chief executive Wayne Jones said a range of services would stay to “support ongoing patient needs”.

However, planning was ongoing to determine which services will remain north of the Tweed River, where the population is expected to boom in coming years. Before construction on the new ninestorey main building begins, the Department of Planning and Environment must approve a State Significant Development application which has been lodged.

Early works can then begin to ready the site for construction of buildings, bulk earthworks, roadways, piling and the connection of services.

Stage 2 of the application, due to be lodged by mid-2019, will seek approval for “the hospital’s detailed design and commissioning”.

According to recently reelected Tweed MP Geoff Provest, the hospital will be operational by 2023.

While Mr Jones has said some community health and out-of-hospital services will remain at Tweed Heads, he has not specified whether particular services would continue on at the current hospital site.

“We are focused on working closely with health providers and partners to develop the right mix of health services that will support ongoing patient needs in the Tweed Heads area,” Mr Jones said.

“A HealthOne model is among the options being considered to deliver a range of community health and other outreach services to the community in Tweed Heads.”