Work to upgrade and improve the Dubbo Hospital car park as part of a $30 million election pledge is still being assessed, according to member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders MP.
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The then candidate for Dubbo said in January of 2019 that the existing parking infrastructure could 'no longer handle the demands of patients and staff', but the project remains in the planning stages for now.
Mr Saunders said the matter had been included in the latest budget as a commitment and that nothing had changed since the announcement was made.
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"The Dubbo Hospital car park was included in the 2019-20 Budget Papers as an election commitment slated to commence in this term of government," Mr Saunders said.
"Nothing has changed."
The upgrades are expected to create a further 350 spaces for parking when completed and Mr Saunders asserted that the full allotment of new spaces would still be delivered.
"It was a commitment of up to $30 million for an additional 350 car spaces that I made alongside the Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, during the election campaign and one that will be delivered," Mr Saunders said.
Mr Saunders said work would not commence until a full assessment by Health Infrastructure had been completed and until existing work on the Dubbo Hospital's current development and cancer treatment centre had been fully completed.
It was a commitment of up to $30 million for an additional 350 car spaces that I made alongside the Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, during the election campaign and one that will be delivered.
- Dugald Saunders MP
"With work still ongoing to the Dubbo Hospital redevelopment as well as the Western Cancer Centre, it is impossible for work to commence on a carpark so Health Infrastructure is undertaking an assessment of the site to identify options as part of delivering on this commitment," Mr Saunders said.
Construction on the Dubbo Hospital redevelopment is anticipated to be completed in 2021, along with the completed Western Cancer Centre.
"I have and will continue to advocate to the Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, and the Treasurer Dominic Perrottet in relation to the project."
Mr Saunders pointed to accomplishments in Mudgee and the ongoing redevelopment in Dubbo as signs of the state government's commitment to deliver.
"As a government we are delivering a redeveloped Dubbo Hospital, the new Mudgee Hospital is complete, and we will deliver a new carpark at Dubbo Hospital."