THE NSW government is prepared to pay more than half of the cost of getting an integrated cancer centre up and running in Dubbo if its federal counterpart is re-elected and injects a promised $25 million into the project.
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On Friday morning Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced that if the federal government was returned after the July 2, poll it would make the multimillion-dollar investment in cancer services for the "more than 270,000 people" living across Western NSW.
The $25 million would go towards the capital works of the estimated $50 million to $60 million project, yet to be fully-planned and costed.
After Mr Joyce's announcement, state Member for Dubbo and Deputy Premier Troy Grant said the state government would help fund construction of the new facility.
Mr Grant said state coffers would also cover equipment, staff and other "ongoing running costs".
"We were hoping for a significant contribution which $25 million certainly is," he said. "Now there's a significant call on the state government to make it a reality.
"I've already given the commitment, after I spoke to Mike (Baird) and Jillian( Skinner), that we would do our bit to make it a reality.
"So it's going to happen, I just wish the feds had stepped up a bit more. But we're a team and they've got some big economic challenges to overcome and we've got our state in a strong position."
Mr Grant told of previous talks with staff of the Western NSW Local Health District and Health Infrastructure about the integrated cancer centre being built as part of stage three and four redevelopment of Dubbo Hospital.
"It is completely possible to do it in line with the stage three and four redevelopment," he said.
Mr Grant said if the federal government was returned "we'll sit down and map it out".
"There's no reason for it to be held up other than an election result not going our way," he said.
"But if the Liberals and Nationals don't win government there's a $25 million hole and it's back to square one."
Mr Grant said the state government had already committed about $250 million to the redevelopment of Dubbo Hospital.
"By the time we're finished we're going to have a $300 million-plus health facility with an integrated cancer centre in it," he said.
Mr Grant congratulated federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton for successfully lobbying for equity of access to world-class services for the western region where cancer cases were forecast to grow by 43 per cent between 2006 and 2021.
In turn Mr Coulton praised the Rotary Club of Dubbo West, Dubbo medical specialists and the region's communities for helping him to raise awareness of the emotional and financial plight of people forced to travel away for cancer screening and treatment.
"I can't remember when the people of Western NSW have been so united on one cause," he said.
"Everyone's put in a big effort right across the west."
Dubbo West Rotarian Lyn Smith can also attest to overwhelming support in the region for an integrated cancer centre offering medical and radiation oncology services as well as PET scanning.
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She reported that a social media campaign and the collection of signatures on a petition destined for the federal Parliament were going gangbusters.
Mrs Smith is "thrilled" by the $25 million election commitment but insistent that regional residents keep signing the petition.
"I have to emphasise that we're not there yet because I don't want people to stop signing the petition," she said.
"The next step is the Coalition being re-elected. I am confident Mark (Coulton) will be re-elected but he might end up on the opposition benches. "If he did we would need the new government to make the same commitment and if they didn't 20,000 signatures would be useful."
Mrs Smith currently is in possession of almost 12,000 signatures.
"But I know there are thousands of signatures out there and I don't want them going in the bin," she said.
Mrs Smith received help from the architect of the social media campaign Franny Peters-Little, Dubbo-based oncologist Dr Florian Honeyball and nurse unit manager of oncology at Dubbo Hospital Tim Williams when collecting signatures at Dubbo Square on Friday afternoon.
Dr Honeyball welcomed the election commitment by the federal government.
"We look forward to working with the state government to enable us to get full funding for the integrated cancer centre in Dubbo," he said.