New Maitland Hospital Environmental Impact Statement released

But it has left vital questions unanswered including the number of beds and the amount of car parking spaces.

The Environmental Impact Statement, which was made public on Friday, said the exact number of beds was “yet to be determined” and expected to be finalised during stage two of the detailed design.

It noted that the hospital had been designed to cater for population growth until at least 2031, and the site could be expanded in the future.

Read more: New Maitland Hospital to be publicly run 

Read more: Design plans on display

The hospital is expected to have 1000 full time equivalent employees and staff at the current hospital will be transferred to the new facility.

The exact number of car parking spaces will also be determined during stage two of the detailed design phase.

It is not yet known if motorists will have to pay to park and what impact this would have around Fieldsend Oval. 

At this stage, the ‘concept hospital’ design shows there would be a multi-storey car park for staff and long-term patients as well as a single-level short stay car park for short stays and visitors. 

A new train station at the hospital will not be built and instead a pathway will connect the hospital with Victoria Street and Metford stations. 

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald attended a briefing at the site on Friday afternoon and announced the Environment Impact Statement had been released. 

It comes after the state government allocated $23.5 million to the project in its June 19 budget and confirmed construction would begin in the 2018-19 financial year.

The construction phase will generate up to 1250 jobs.

“The community can view building, public transport and traffic plans, as well as other information to address potential impacts on the local area,” Mr MacDonald said.

“This is an important step for the Lower Hunter community and is another step forward for the community in receiving a world class hospital that services their needs now and into the future.”

The existing Maitland Hospital has been operating at 97 per cent – instead of the recommend 85 per cent and has 184 acute beds and sub‐acute beds, the report said.

The future of that site remains unknown.

Click here to read the report: www.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au