He seems to be totally out of step with reality. Whilst housing prices have gone through the roof over the past five years wages have remained static. Often a 20 per cent deposit is needed which is near impossible given the slow wages growth. Women's Refuges, Disability Services and Public Housing advocates all advise that is near impossible to get appropriate, reasonably priced housing. In the Bay and Basin area it is a 10 year wait, minimum, for a public housing property.

Secure housing has big impacts on health, education and job prospects. We need people in the top jobs in government who truly understand the issues and not just flippantly brush off what is a true crisis.

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I moved to the Shoalhaven well over 40 years ago. Its pleasing and about time that NSW Health want to actually spend significant money in the Shoalhaven.

However, upgrading an old facility with minimal land space around, in an existing residential area, through a rabbit-warren of roads and back streets, far away from the main highway and where our population is slated to grow is not the brightest idea. Not to mention the increase of air-ambulance noise that will inevitably come with a larger facility and more folk requiring its services.

A new Greenfields site with easy access off the Princes Highway near Falls Creek/Comberton area with the existing facility turned into a specialist hospital, would've made the most sense.

If NSW Health was fair dinkum about planning for the next 100years, then a Greenfields site would be the only option. It beggars belief that there was essentially zero public consultation about this.

Our government needs to remember they're spending our money, our tax dollars. By the time they finish upgrading the existing facility it will be well behind the 8-ball in terms of servicing and satisfying the Shoalhaven's needs.

Spend double or triple the amount indicated and give us and future generations something that will actually last the distance.

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