Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Northern Victoria Region

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (15:44): (465) My question is to the Minister for Health following the release of the master plan for the Albury–Wodonga regional hospital yesterday. It has been 12 months since the New South Wales and Victorian governments announced a major redevelopment of the Albury hospital on the existing site. The master plan was released yesterday ahead of community meetings that start tomorrow. As the region is growing rapidly and existing services are under pressure, the local community has been anxiously awaiting details of the master plan, but as reported by ABC Goulburn–Murray, the master plan does not include hospital bed numbers. The master plan lacks detail, and it will be very difficult for the community to provide feedback. Can the minister provide details about the number of hospital beds and ensure that this information is shared at the community information sessions this week? Better Border Health have criticised the master plan for lack of detail. In a statement they said:

A handful of very basic schematic drawings, artist impressions that bear almost no resemblance to the actual Albury site, and a summary that parrots previously released project outlines does not constitute a master plan.

It is very disappointing the master plan has been released with very little detail.