NSW Nationals Member for Tweed Geoff Provest is busy delivering on his promises, turning the sod on the new Tweed Hospital, delivering the Pottsville Ambulance Station, and securing more Police resources.
A sod-turning ceremony marked the countdown to the start of construction on the state-of-the art $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital this week, with Mr Provest joined by Health Minister Brad Hazzard at the Cudgen Road site for the milestone.
“Today’s event brings us one step closer to our new hospital, with early construction works given the green light to start next week,” Mr Provest said. “Not only will our new hospital deliver world class healthcare services for the community closer to home, it will also bring hundreds of new jobs to the region and boost our economy.”
The Tweed Valley Hospital is the cornerstone of the NSW Government’s more than $500 million investment in health for the Tweed-Byron region. It will mean that more than 5000 patients each year will not have to travel outside of the region for life-saving treatments. The early works include preparation of the site for construction of the hospital buildings, including creation of permanent and temporary site access, bulk excavation, piling and retaining walls and in-ground services.
Health Infrastructure has now lodged a request with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to commence the Stage 2 State Significant Development application process. The request will seek approval for the detailed design, construction, and commissioning of the hospital buildings.
Meanwhile, Pottsville’s new, almost $6 million ambulance station, was nearing completion.
“This ambulance station has been designed to meet the needs of the local Pottsville community and surrounds, with valuable input from NSW Ambulance paramedics,” Mr Provest said. “This means our paramedics will receive the vital support they need to meet the local demand for emergency medical care for years to come.”
The new Pottsville station includes:
• Internal parking for up to four emergency ambulance vehicles
• Logistics and storage areas
• Relief accommodation
• Staff parking
• Deliveries and loading bay
The next steps include an internal fit out and operational commissioning by NSW Ambulance, ahead of the station commencing operation in the coming months.
And the Tweed community will be an even safer place with significant investments in more police, state-of-the-art technology and upgraded infrastructure for first responders.
The Nationals in Government solidified their pledge to community safety by committing to deliver nine new police officers to the region – five for the Marine Area Command, based in Tweed, and four at the Tweed/Byron Police District. These are extra police officers part of a $583 million investment in 1500 extra police across the State over four years.
Mr Provest welcomed the investment in police to ensure community safety remains the Government’s top priority.
“I’m thrilled our community will be a safer place thanks to this NSW Government investment boosting our local police numbers. I am proud to welcome these men and women and wish them every success in their policing careers in Tweed,” he said.
Finally, Mr Provest met with volunteers of the Tweed Heads SES unit to present a $2250 grant for two computers to assist with supporting first responders in operations, tasking, resource planning, logistics and other business.
