“Crazy” to build new Port Macquarie hospital without fast ambo access

What is the point of having a new hospital if you can’t get to it fast in an emergency?

This question has concentrated the minds of Mid North Coast locals in the wake of Labor’s State Budget on Tuesday.

The government attempted to take a second helping of credit for its $265 million Port Macquarie Base Hospital redevelopment, however Labor could find no new money to upgrade the heavily-congested thoroughfare ambulances and other vehicles rely upon for fast access.

The Oxley Highway between the intersections at Lakes Road and Wrights Road is used by more than 20,000 vehicles a day. It can take more than 20 minutes in peak times to travel less than a kilometre. 

Safety issue: Port Macquarie MP Rob Dwyer (Liberals) said it was “crazy” to upgrade the hospital but not its key access route, and that “paramedics get caught up in that traffic congestion”. 

What else was in the budget?: Dwyer and Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Adam Roberts expressed frustration at the lack of new investment in water and sewer infrastructure at Cowarra and Thrumster.

Among the budget items Dwyer welcomed were an allocation of $43.4 million for Lord Howe Island’s marine infrastructure and waste management facility upgrades and $1.6 million for social housing.

The government allocated $1.8 million to finalise planning for safety upgrades to the Pacific Highway/Oxley Highway Interchange. Another site prone to clogging, it is known locally as “The Donut”.

Myall Lakes electorate

The budget reiterated the previously announced $180 million investment in the Lower Mid North Coast Health Service (Manning and Forster–Tuncurry), but Myall Lakes MP Tanya Thompson expressed concern at the lack of investment for healthcare services in Bulahdelah, upgrades to The Lakes Way corridor, the rebuild of Wingham Memorial Pool or the redevelopment of the Tuncurry Slipway.  

The budget allocated $73.1 million for “critical repairs to damaged flood management assets across the Hunter”.

Oxley

Oxley MP Michael Kemp said the budget “contains some important wins” but overall “misses the mark” for regional NSW. He backed Labor investments including $33 million for the Dorrigo Great Walk, $22.1 million for improvements to Waterfall Way, $750,000 for social housing upgrades and $700,000 for health building refurbishments in Kempsey.

But he said the budget’s cost-of-living measures - including toll relief - were “heavily skewed towards metropolitan areas”. 

Coffs Harbour 

The budget promises the continued delivery - over four years - of $227.3 million for the Coffs Harbour bypass, $6 million for businesses in the Great Koala National Park region and $140 million for the establishment of the park. 

Across the North Coast 

A total of $4.5 million has been allocated to support three North Coast homelessness service centres, alongside more than $546 million to restore local roads and public assets damaged by natural disasters, $7 million for the NSW cattle tick program and a 50 percent increase in statewide funding to tackle domestic and family violence. 

The budget also offers $100 off private vehicle registration ($80 for motorcycles), $15,000 interest-free loans and $4,000 discounts to install energy-efficient appliances and a $1,000 cost-of-living payment for over 120,000 state government employees.

Image credit: Google Maps.