New Eurobodalla Regional Hospital development application given green light
At the ONE Eurobodalla Hospital Q & Q held last week in Moruya, one of the main questions was “when will the build start?”
The answer to this was when the Department of Planning has made its determination, to which Dr Michael Holland said was ‘imminent.’
Construction for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital has been given the green light, with the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) approved for the project.
The NSW Government’s $260 million investment in the new hospital will deliver a range of expanded and enhanced healthcare services closer to home for the entire Eurobodalla Shire community from Narooma to Batemans Bay.
The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be established as a Level 4 health facility and include:
- An emergency department with a larger capacity than the current combined emergency services of Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals.
- An eight bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) / Close Observation Unit (COU). This will be the first intensive care service available in the Eurobodalla region.
- Increased capacity for chemotherapy treatments and access to renal dialysis
- Surgical and operating theatres and a day stay surgical unit.
- Expanded medical imaging, including a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) service.
- Ambulatory care for community outpatient services.
- Paediatric and maternity services, and a special care nursery.
- Mental health beds for short term admissions.
- Enhanced education and training facilities, including a simulation laboratory.
Work to prepare the site for main works will soon get underway, with construction of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital expected to start in June 2024.
The Batemans Bay Hospital and Moruya Hospitals will continue to operate and provide healthcare services for the community, while the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and $20 million Batemans Bay Community Health facility is being built.
Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said “I’m thrilled the community is a step closer to accessing a brand-new hospital, which will provide more health services than are currently available at both the Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined.
“It will reduce the need to travel for care and ultimately improve health outcomes for everyone in the Eurobodalla, no matter where they live.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully
“This is a major milestone for the project, paving the way for the new hospital to be built, following the appointment of a main works contractor.
“Feedback from staff, clinicians, patients, stakeholders and the community has informed the planning and design of the new hospital, which will deliver world-class and contemporary care for Eurobodalla and surrounding communities.”Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said “As someone who has long advocated for investments in regional health facilities, I know that a regional Level 4 Hospital will save lives and allow more people to receive world-class critical care closer to home.
“I’m very excited we’re getting on with the job, as each step of the process gets us closer to delivering the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital to provide the health services our community deserves.”
The key reasons for granting consent to the development application are as follows:
- the project would provide a range of benefits for the region and the State as a whole, including capital investment in health infrastructure, as well as the creation of 306 construction jobs and 518 full-time equivalent operational jobs, inclusive of new jobs and jobs relocated through the closure of existing hospitals at Batemans Bay and Moruya;
- the project is permissible with development consent, and is consistent with NSW Government policies including the NSW Premier’s State Priorities, The South East and Tablelands Region Plan 2036, Transport for NSW’s Future Transport Strategy 2056, Infrastructure NSW’s State Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2042, Government Architect NSW’s Connecting with Country Framework, and the Eurobodalla Shire Council Local Strategic Planning Policy;
- the impacts on the community and the environment can be appropriately minimised, managed or offset to an acceptable level, in accordance with applicable NSW Government policies and standards. The consent authority has included conditions to ensure: good design is achieved and public domain works delivered, biodiversity offsets are delivered, and noise mitigation is delivered through design development to ensure noise targets are complied with and construction impacts are appropriately managed;
- the issues raised by the community during consultation and in submissions have been considered and adequately addressed through changes to the project and the conditions of consent. Engagement on the project is considered to be in line with Undertaking Engagement Guidelines for State Significant Projects, including the community participation objectives outlined in these guidelines; and
- weighing all relevant considerations, the project is in the public interest.
Some of the conditions of consent are that :
- no consent is granted for the helipad shown on the Applicant’s architectural drawings and landscape plans
- a requirement for the preparation and implementation of a final workforce accommodation strategy, to include the measures outlined in the preliminary strategy.
- requirements for the construction of the bus infrastructure prior to commencement of operation, and maintenance of internal roads to ensure continued public bus access for duration of operation.
The Assessment Report will provided to the delegate of the Minister of Planning and Public Spaces for consideration when deciding whether to grant consent to the State Significant development.
For the latest news and information about the project visit: eurobodallahs.health.nsw.gov.au
