The $434 million Shoalhaven District Hospital redevelopment will see the hospital precinct expand onto Nowra Park but at this stage no plans are available to show the extent of the hospital's new footprint.
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A leaked internal Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District memo to staff by CEO Margot Mains has revealed Shoalhaven City Council had given "interim in-principle support for the acquisition of Nowra Park" as part of the proposed hospital redevelopment.
This was the first time it had been revealed Nowra Park was set to become a victim in the hospital's expansion plans.
A masterplan for the hospital precinct was released in June 2018 and while that showed what a proposed new layout of the hospital could be going into the future, it didn't indicate that Nowra Park would be taken as part of the proposed expansion.
In fact, the plans the South Coast Register has published shows the parkland remaining intact.
Health Infrastructure says plans are still being developed but the Register understands plans for the expansion have been tabled at a number of meetings.
Read more:
- Shoalhaven Hospital expansion should be a greenfields site, not Nowra Park: Mayor
- Nowra man Bill Hancock calls for new Shoalhaven hospital greenfield site rather than expanding further into historic Nowra Park
- Shoalhaven City Councillor Nina Digiglio says new greenfield site should be considered for hospital redevelopment
- Will Nowra Park's iconic Blackbutt fall victim to hospital expansion?
"The $434 million Shoalhaven District Hospital redevelopment is in the planning stage with work on the project to start in this term of government," a Health Infrastructure spokesperson said.
"The clinical services planning is progressing and extensive community and stakeholder engagement will take place.
"Updated master planning will be coordinated with the clinical services planning."
The spokesperson said once the "updated master planning is complete, plans will be released to the community".
"Planning such a large development takes considerable time to ensure we have opportunities to comprehensively consult with staff and the community and obtain valuable input," the spokesperson said.
"The NSW Government is investing a record $10.1 billion in this term of government in our hospitals and health facilities right across the state.
"The $434 million redevelopment of Shoalhaven District Hospital will significantly improve and enhance healthcare services for residents of the South Coast.
"Since 2011, the NSW Government has built or upgraded more than 130 hospitals and health facilities, with more than 80 projects currently underway - more than two-thirds of those have been located in regional and rural areas."
Instead we were directed to Health Infrastructure's website explaining he "complex process of building hospitals and healthcare facilities," which the South Coast Register has previously published.