Give your diagnosis: Mudgee Health Precinct Master Plan on exhibition

At their December meeting on Wednesday, Mid-Western Regional Council voted to place the plan on public exhibition for 28 days and adopt it if no submissions are received.

The new Hospital occupies a different part of the site than its predecessor and has consolidated its services under one roof, whereas previously a number of which - including Community Health - were provided out of buildings scattered around the location. And Mudgee Junior Rugby League are set to move from Cahill Park, with their new home included in the ongoing construction of Stage 2 of the Glen Willow Sporting Complex.

These have presented an opportunity to plan long-term for the future expansion of health infrastructure and to potentially provide educational and training facilities for health professionals.

The Master Plan was developed following consultation with stakeholders; University of Wollongong (UOW); Western NSW Local Health District (NSW LHD); Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE); and Mid-Western Regional Council.

Among the key elements of the precinct set out is a "shared education area", with a purpose-built clinical education and training space for educators, health workers and health students.

Along with accommodation for key health workers - around six units - and medical students, in close proximity to Mudgee Health Services.

The plan also suggests scope for further hospital outpatient specialist space and private health provider expansion, in order to be close to the Hospital.

As well as a potential Ambulance station, should the need arise to expand upon or significantly update the current Mudgee facility in Gladstone Street.

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Although it was acknowledged that the latter and the outpatient specialist and private health provider spaces, aren't specifically required at this time, but they've been identified as a possibility for the future development.

In order to improve access, pedestrian links to the CBD via Church Street and Lewis Street are also proposed.

Another opportunity presented in the plan is to provide a location for the proposed indoor pool facility for Mudgee, with Cahill Park considered to be a possible site.

Council has sought community feedback on the project and last year undertook a feasibility study. And at their October 2019 meeting they voted to further investigate developing the facility at a "new" site, rather than attempting to adapt the current outdoor pool.

The indoor pool project was also included in the Health Precinct Master Plan due to its ability to also serve the health community through therapeutic and rehabilitative activities.

Furthermore, the plan proposes changes to zoning allowances to add options for medium density residential development and to support affordable housing, seniors housing, and residential aged care, with the vicinity of the Health Precinct an option for the latter.

In speaking to the motion, Cr Russell Holden acknowledged the work involved in "getting us from where we started, to what we are presenting to the community tonight".

"I would like to offer my congratulations to the staff involved in this. We received a draft report as far back as March this year, which I don't think anyone was an appropriate plan, and I think the staff have done brilliantly to pull together what I think is a very good Master Plan," he said.

"And I'll be very interested to see the feedback we get from both the medical fraternity and the general public."

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