It’s a no brainer to plan for a hospital in the Aerotropolis, but it’s taken a state election to get a commitment from one of the major political parties.
Opposition leader Chris Minns will be on site this morning to announce that if elected on March 25 a NSW Labor Government will commit $15 million to commence planning and site selection for a new public hospital in the Aerotropolis.
He will be joined by his candidate for nearby Leppington Nathan Hagarty, Campbelltown MP Greg Warren, health spokesman Ryan Park and Camden candidate Sally Quinnell.
Labor say their commitment ahead of the election will secure the future of a new hospital that will service the largest growth area of Sydney over the coming decades.
The Western Parkland City region, which includes the Macarthur region and Liverpool, will grow by more than 360,000 people in the next 20 years, an increase of 32 per cent, making it the fastest growing region in the state.
Labor says that for too long, families across Western Sydney have moved into new suburbs on the promise that crucial infrastructure will follow.
But more often than not, they are left without roads, schools, or access to healthcare.
And without proper planning, it adds pressure to existing health services, in this case Nepean, Liverpool and Campbelltown hospitals, which are already under severe stress.
That stops under a Labor Government, says Mr Minns.
“Families will continue to move into this area over the coming decades, and this announcement will see the necessary health infrastructure planned for, with a site identified for a future hospital.
Labor is also committing to planning and building new hospitals with a full campus model, which means a future hospital at the Aerotropolis will have a childcare centre, and healthcare worker housing, both on site.
Importantly, this is also a key outcome from evidence given at the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into current and future provision of health services in the South West Sydney Growth Region, which recommended:
“That the NSW Government secure land within the Aerotropolis precinct for a future health facility that could expand children’s services to meet the needs of South West Sydney, including the projected population in and around this precinct.”
Labor also points to recent Bureau of Health Information (BHI) figures show that hospitals in the area are under pressure.
Not a single nearby hospital was starting critical emergency department treatments on time, in more than half the cases.
The majority of patients waited over four hours for their treatment to start.
“The government has dragged its feet on this for too long,’’ says Minns.
“We’ve seen time and time again, new areas developed, houses built and people moving in, but the important infrastructure isn’t there.
“And this has flow on effects because it puts pressure on health infrastructure and hospitals in the surrounding areas.
“I’m determined to fix this. Under Labor I want people to have access to the education and healthcare facilities they deserve and are entitled to as soon as they move in, not years later.
“It’s the least they can expect from their government.”
