A petition which takes aim at the Metford hospital site’s shortcomings has gathered more than 10,000 signatures and will trigger a parliamentary debate.
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The petitioners fear the Metford site will not suit the needs of Lower Hunter residents and will be too difficult to access for people in other areas including Branxton, Bellbird and Kurri Kurri.
“We think the [Metford] site is crazy,” Branxton-Greta Community Business Chamber president Mick Starkey said.
“Somewhere along the Hunter Expressway corridor would be a much better option.”
The mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore, strongly disagreed and said the petitioners had underestimated committee considerations of the various sites.
Metford is close to Maitland Private Hospital to provide well-rounded care and has ready rail access.
The Metford site was also considered to be the best for attracting staff when compared to a hospital further out near Branxton or Cessnock.
“[Workforce] is one of the key things that needs to be taken into consideration,” Cr Blackmore said. “I think [the petitioners] are doing this in vain.”
The petition has been circulated through shops in areas west of Maitland and asks the Legislative Assembly to have the Premier Mike Baird and the Health Minister Jillian Skinner work with Hunter New England Health to review alternative sites.
“Our business community will continue to push for the Hunter Expressway corridor as the preferred site to cater for regional growth,” Kurri Kurri District Business Chamber president and Cessnock councillor Rod Doherty said.
“We’ll fight until they lay the foundations.”
Petition participants argue that a hospital on the M15 would benefit Cessnock and Kurri Kurri, which both have ageing hospitals.
“We’re up to 10,000 signatures,” Cr Doherty said.
“We’re hoping to get the petition done by March.”
Cr Blackmore urged those detractors to reconsider their objections and be thankful they would get a new hospital with all the latest technology on their doorstep.
“The standard of care [at Kurri Kurri and Cessnock hospitals] is still first class and the people in those areas would appreciate that they will have a John Hunter-standard hospital close by,” he said.
“The government will not change its mind.”
