Wodonga Council hosted a successful workshop this week with community leaders regarding continuing advocacy for a single-site hospital.
Working with specialist consultants The Civic Partnership, the group of almost 20 worked through the scale and scope of a campaign to advocate for a new hospital.
Wodonga Mayor Cr Ron Mildren said many key issues were raised and discussed as part of the workshop.
“We reiterate the 2022 announcement of significant funding for Albury Wodonga Health from both states is a welcome step towards improving hospital infrastructure for our catchment,” he said.
“However, the discussion clearly pointed to a feeling that what has been announced is a compromised outcome and that our community needs and deserves better.
“The lack of information on how this decision has been reached, what the $558 million will ultimately get us and what consultation with the community will look like continues to be a source of concern.”
Issues such as access, transport links, safety, parking, design and future growth were all raised as concerns for the present site.
Creating a centre of excellence to attract specialists and staff, research facilities as well as providing first-class clinical services in an inclusive way for a growing population were all raised as the benefits of a new hospital.
The need for a community advisory group to inform design to consider accessible and culturally appropriate elements was also considered essential.
The group included members of the Border Medical Association, Better Border Health, community health services in Albury-Wodonga and the Mayor and CEO of Indigo Shire.
Wodonga Council has written to the Victorian Premier Dan Andrews, Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas and new NSW Premier Chris Minns. It is yet to receive a response but will continue to pressure for a response to our queries.
The consultants, The Civic Partnership, will bring together the threads of the workshop discussion into a report which will outline recommendations for the council and the community to continue the ongoing advocacy.