Council passed many motions and empowered its mayor and general manager to help pursue a greenfield site at its latest monthly meeting on December 17.
Council acknowledges the current, proposed redevelopment plan falls critically short of meeting the current and future health needs as emphasised by Albury Wodonga and other nearby councils.
Federation Council calls on the State Governments of Victoria and New South Wales to pause the current redevelopment plans for the Albury Hospital and redirect efforts towards a fully funded, new single-site hospital in Albury or Wodonga.
Council wants the Australian Government and the two State Governments to collaborate for the provision of a fully funded health service that meets the current and future needs of all the regional communities within the catchment of Albury Wodonga Health.
Council urgently seeks assurances from the NSW and Victorian State Governments to allay the fears of our community that the $558 million investment allocated to the Albury Wodonga Health Service is committed regardless of the form the new hospital may take.
Council urgently seeks commitment from the two State Governments to provide interim solutions to address the current, ongoing hospital capacity deficiencies, including but not limited to: additional beds (like modular wards) now that have operational staffing; additional theatres now funded to operate effectively; capital and operational funding to meet these short-term needs.
Council’s General Manager Adrian Butler and Mayor Cheryl Cook have been authorised to, among other things, advocate for, and communicate this position statement with the State Governments of Victoria and NSW, the Federal Government and with the Board of Albury-Wodonga Health. They are also to advocate for regional boundary changes, and specifically that the current proposed Hume Region be split into two regions and that Albury Wodonga Health run the Ovens Murray Local Health Service Network as the Health Community of Interest emanating from Albury Wodonga Region.
Council also resolved, on the motion of Crs Richard Nixon and Rowena Black, that a report for its January 2025 meeting on the health position paper tabled by the Regional Business Chamber be considered for adoption, including any amendments proposed by council and agreed to by the chamber.
Keen to remove reference to ‘new’ regarding a single site hospital, but leave all other wording of the motion, Cr Derek Schoen foreshadowed a motion if the motion by Crs Nixon and Black was unsuccessful.
Cr Schoen was still seeking a fully funded health service but wanted the existing Albury site to be considered, and expanded, as was the case at Wagga.
Mr Butler said that scenario occurred because there was full funding for the Wagga expansion with strong political funding clout. “You won’t get that with $558 million,” he said.
Council knows that a much greater figure than $558 million is required and hopes for such as not high as Cr Andrew Kennedy advised, referring to the plights of the NSW and Vic Governments.
“Surely in ten years we’ll get enough,” Cr Nixon said.
Cr Black acknowledged it will take a long time for adequate funding, but emphasised Albury Wodonga and neighbouring councils are seeking the same result – a fully funded new site - to service 350,000 people and that should be Federation Council’s stance to illustrate a united approach.
Cr David Bott sought council’s current position on our shire’s two hospitals in Corowa and Urana. “Surely we should be looking after our own backyard,” he said.
Mr Butler agreed, particularly as current problems, he said, are meaning additional work in Albury Wodonga and that a lot more will be revealed at January’s meeting.
The motion of Crs Nixon and Black was successful.
Renewing multi-purpose strategy (MPS) for Urana and Corowa
In other news, Federation Council resolved to write to the NSW Government Minister for Health, Local Member Justin Clancy and the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, urging continued investment into renewal of MPSs across NSW, including the Urana MPS that has had a Clinical Services Plan approved since 2021 that outlines a new or major upgrade is required to the facility, with no sign of any funding.
“The Urana MPS was the first of its kind in the state, combining an emergency department, high and low care beds, and aged care and Community Health,” Mr Butler said.
“Being the first built, (late 1970s early 1980s) it is now well outdated and the physical conditions the staff and patients have to put up with, led to the approved CSP being endorsed by the Murrumbidgee Local Health District Board in 2021.
“The matter is now with the NSW Government to prioritise funding.”
Mr Butler said there has been a decline in the last two years, citing many examples:
> Lack of investment into Urana MPS, after the Clinical Services Plan (CSP) was approved in 2021. “This is not a criticism of Murrumbidgee Local Health District, board and staff, who have had this as a priority for some time,” Mr Butler stated.
> Lack of investment into Corowa Hospital (eg theatre temporarily closed).
> Corowa Hospital Clinical Services Plan (CSP) stalled.
> Loss of Corowa's last Bulk Billing GP and Bulk Billing Medical Centre.
> Continued support of Federation Council into Medical Centres and dwellings in Oaklands and Urana.
> Lack of implementation of the approved 2021 CSP for Albury Wodonga single site hospital and the revised downwards 2023 master plan and 2024 concept design.
“This is considered a glaring example of a lack of effective cross border collaboration, that led to a lack of appropriate funding, around a third of what is needed has been obtained,” Mr Butler said.
“If managed well, a Federal Government contribution to achieve the 2021 CSP may have been possible.
Instead, the NSW and Victorian Governments are pushing ahead with just their own insufficient funding and proposing loose ideas about future stages and expansion, leaving many in the community, medical professionals and most councils, dissatisfied and seeking a new greenfield site.
“Withdrawal of or lessening of other allied health services in the area such as mental health,
dietician, podiatry, hence the continued investment by Federation Council such as the new Oaklands Medical Centre, that has room for such services to be offered. Again, this is not a criticism of the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, who do a terrific job in the circumstances.”
Cr David Harrison applauded the Mayor and General Manager for being so involved in health matters.
Cr Harrison compared the Federation Council area of the rest of NSW, saying the shire, for example, nine plus years older and the percentage of people over the age of 60 will increase by 45% in the next 15 years.
“We have a higher premature death rate, especially in males which is shockingly higher and many of which are classified as avoidable,” Cr Harrison said.
“We have twice the mortality rate of cancer, twice the mortality rate of circulatory disease and higher mental health issues – including depression and anxiety.
“And I am going to bang on about these numbers for the next four years because I think they are much more important than talking about potholes.
“Council has a strong position now on a greenfield site and all councillors are well across health issues in Federation shire.” (Cr Pat Bourke said this has been the case since August 2024 when former councillor Sally Hughes successfully moved a motion accordingly).”
Cr Harrison continued; “It's vital that we don’t lose focus on the health issues on our shire that need urgent action as well as being mindful of any Albury Wodonga development will have on this”.
“Our own two hospitals must remain a priority for us - we need to work with all stakeholders in this.”
