The Blue Mountains Gazette recently announced "The time has come: How the fight for a new Blue Mountains hospital just crept closer to reality". Many people in my community will be aware that I have fought long and hard for two things: first, significant funding for upgrades to our 100-year-old hospital in the Blue Mountains at Katoomba; and, second, to further advance plans and scoping work for a new hospital. The reality of a new hospital has moved a step closer, with the New South Wales Minns Labor Government setting aside $25 million to search for a suitable, practical site.
Many people will know that the Blue Mountains form a ridge line, with cliffs either side of the highway and railway line. It is not easy to find a greenfield site for a new hospital, but we are getting there. Early on the morning of Wednesday 8 July it was wonderful to welcome the Minister for Health to our 100-year-old Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital in Katoomba to announce the Government's pledge of new funds for detailed design and scoping works for a hospital site. It is important to acknowledge that this is the last remaining Anzac memorial hospital in the State and that the next step signalling the delivery of major health infrastructure and capital works is happening. As my friend and colleague the Parliamentary Secretary for Health said when he held a round table with our community, we need to move through very specific steps—one at a time—before we see a new hospital.
The Minns Labor Government has delivered an important boost to the future of the Blue Mountains hospital. The additional $25 million investment in the 2026-27 State budget will build facilities to meet the healthcare needs of the Blue Mountains community now and into the future. It is very important. Disappointingly, the Coalition failed to deliver, or properly fund, major hospital projects across New South Wales. This left parts of the State, including the Blue Mountains, missing health systems and therefore suffering severe pressures. This additional funding will support planning for a future hospital. It includes progressing site investigations, design and scoping works. This did not happen overnight. There are many people to thank from the 10 or 11 years that I have been the member of Parliament. They include the nurses and midwives at my local hospital, the mighty Nurses and Midwives' Association, the allied health staff of the Health Services Union, all the doctors and clinicians, and the executive at my hospital.
I acknowledge the CEO of the local health district, Brad Astill, and my hospital auxiliary, particularly Noel Rath, who was delighted to come along for the announcement. He has been working with me on this for many years. The auxiliary, which is 100 years old, is fantastic. I acknowledge hospital general manager Lyn Day and the chair of the medical staff council, Dr Arman Babajanyan, who is a wonderful human who sought out views and included them in his representations to me, which were passed on to the Minister. The Leura Gardens Festival raised money for our hospital. I thank the community members whom I have worked with for many years: Brook Broughton, Bruce Ferrier, Mark Jarvis, Pam Seaborn and Christine Killinger from the Katoomba Chamber of Commerce. I particularly thank my good friend our health Minister, who obviously got up incredibly early that day to head up to the mountains for this very significant announcement.
