Labor is demanding plans for Rouse Hill Hospital be finalised after it was revealed the the Government failed to follow its own reporting processes and doesn't know if the proposed site is even suitable.
The hospital is one of many promises the Government has made to growing North West Sydney, where health and roads infrastructure is failing to keep pace with population growth.
The Government will approve the development of 10,000 new homes at Marsden Park North and Schofields West yet has failed to deliver:
- Rouse Hill Hospital: Despite promising to build a new hospital in 2015 and 2019, the State Budget only re-announced money to purchase land but included no funding for construction. It's now been revealed the Government doesn't know if the site is suitable because Health Infrastructure hasn't completed its due diligence reporting.
- A commuter carpark at Schofields Station: The Member for Riverstone Kevin Conolly promised it would be done by 2020. Construction is yet to begin.
- Upgrades to fix congestion on Garfield Road: Project flagged in 2013. Seven years later it’s still in the ‘planning’ stage.
- A start date for the Bandon Road connection, which was supposed to be locked in when 25% of development in the North West Growth Centre was complete. There is still no funding allocated.
The NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay, the Shadow Minister for Health Ryan Park and the Shadow Minister for Transport Chris Minns joined the Member for Londonderry Prue Car and the Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali for a visit to the rapidly growing area to highlight the critical need for better infrastructure.
Ms McKay said: “I have visited Riverstone a number of times and understand the frustration the community is feeling.
“Families are moving to the outer suburbs of Sydney but the local infrastructure is years behind. The Government has failed to plan for growth in Sydney’s North West.
“When we build better neighbourhoods we can create jobs. Let’s build the Rouse Hill Hospital and upgrade commuter carparks and roads and let’s use local supplies, skills and communities to do it . Let’s deliver the local infrastructure communities need, when it’s needed.”
Mr Park added: “Health services in the North West are paramount. This is a growing population that is desperately in need of proper health services and they are not getting it. Rouse Hill was promised a hospital at both the 2015 and 2019 elections. The Budget fails to deliver a cent for that hospital and now we know the Government isn't even taking the planning process seriously."
Ms Car said: “Families have moved to North West Sydney on the promise of schools, roads and a hospital. Working families have been repeatedly misled by the Liberals with their false promises on infrastructure.”
“This Treasurer is all talk and no action. The North West is one the fastest growing areas in NSW and the services and infrastructure just aren’t keeping up. The pace of development has far exceeded the provision of vital infrastructure and services. This Government continues to make promises it won’t deliver.”