An elected Liberal National Government will get on and do what needs to be done to rebuild the Warrnambool Base Hospitals emergency department and operating theatres, Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell says.
But Mrs Britnell said it was impossible to put a dollar amount to it – because costings are being kept secret by the Labor Government.
“The last time I met with the hospital board with Shadow Minister for Health Mary Wooldridge, we were told the Labor Government was keeping the costings confidential and that the board did not even know what the figure was,” Mrs Britnell said.
“The previous masterplan had the project costed at around $100 million – we put that money on the table in 2014 and we remain committed to getting the job done.
“Once we know the costings, we’ll be able to put a price on it. But the commitment to upgrade these vital parts of the hospital stands, as it has for the past four years.”
Mrs Britnell also said James Purcell’s idea to move the hospital to Deakin University was wasteful because it was too late.
“James has just spent $7.5 million of taxpayers money drawing up plans for a redevelopment at the current hospital site – now he says he thinks it should be moved,” she said.
“Why didn’t he come up with this idea before he spent the money?
“The time to talk about moving the hospital was 10 years ago – it was considered and vehemently rejected. It makes no sense to move the hospital now after $112 million was spent on the stage one development and $30 million was spent building our wonderful cancer centre in that areas.
“I think the community has to ask if this hair brain scheme is just James Purcell and his mates in the Labor Party again trying to delay funding stage two of the hospital redevelopment or is it just another ploy to grab a headline?”
