“The Federal and State governments now see the importance of getting a one-stop cancer care centre built in the Shoalhaven,” he said.

However, Cr Green said there was still work to be done.

“We are currently putting the necessary documentation together to justify and identify the needs for the cancer care centre and linear accelerator,” he said. “This documentation will align the South Coast’s cancer care needs with the NSW cancer care and radiotherapy plan.”

Finally getting the much-awaited state cancer care plan released is one of Cr Green’s priorities.

He said a task force would be putting a submission together seeking funds from the Federal Government’s $580 million cancer centre plan.

The Mayor, who is also chairman of the Lions Linear Accelerator Appeal Committee, said the money was still regularly coming in.

Cr Green is hoping the community appeal will reach the $1 million mark by December 1.

“Reaching the $1 million mark will create a good feeling in the community,” he said.

Currently there is $900,000 in the bank, with pledges of at least $50,000 about to be banked.

Finding a site for the linear accelerator is also on Cr Green’s agenda.

“It is my intention to see if the land identified for the South Coast cancer care centre and the linear accelerator is council land,” he said.

He had three sites in mind but said he was not in a position to reveal them.

Once built, the facility would be made available to all members of the community.

“Most importantly, we are looking to build a facility that every person will have the opportunity to access as a public patient,” Cr Green said.

“No person will be discriminated on the grounds of his or her financial capacity, sex, race or religion.”

Cr Green said he took every opportunity to promote the appeal and get support for it.

He recently attended the launch of the Shoalhaven Relay for Life where he spoke with the chief executive officer of the Cancer Council NSW, Dr Andrew Penman.

“Dr Penman was highly supportive of the cancer care centre for the South Coast,” Cr Green said.

Dr Penman also gave Cr Green ideas on another related project, to be announced shortly.

Meanwhile, Cr Green said the fundraising effort would be entering its second stage, in which bigger projects would be announced.