Friday 8 September, 2017

Tamworth Regional Council has been approached to provide land for the establishment of a new medical centre in South Tamworth.  The services to be provided at the centre are extensive including six permanent GPs, and a full range of allied health professionals such as physiotherapists and speech pathologists.

Councillors will consider a report at next Tuesday’s meeting which details the proposal and the preferred site which is an area of parkland in Hyman Park on the opposite side of Hillvue Road to the playground equipment.

The agency proposing to establish the medical centre is the Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service. The estimated cost of the centre is between $4.5 and $5.5 million dollars and would provide a full range of medical and allied health services to the whole Tamworth community.  The initiative represents a significant increase to the health services currently available in South Tamworth.

Tamworth Region Mayor Col Murray said the first step to considering the request for the proposed site of the centre will be to consult with the community.

“The site proposed is public land and for the proposed development to move forward, the site will need to be reclassified and sold,” he said.

“The Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service is looking to build a state-of-the-art facility with at least six permanent general practitioners, a range of specialist services and provide training facilities to compliment current tertiary studies being delivered in Tamworth.”

“There are a range of benefits this facility proposed by an important community group would bring to South Tamworth, but it’s important for Council to first start a broad community consultation including a letterbox drop to adjoining neighbours.”

The report Councillors will consider recommends that a community consultation process be undertaken to explain to residents what the medical centre will provide.  The community will then be able to have input into the consideration of the proposal.

The report said in addition to providing ‘a well-resourced medical service for the whole community’ the  proposed facility would help revitalise the area in the vicinity of the proposed site and introduce a ‘significant number of new professional jobs’ with flow on effects to the local economy.

Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service Chief Executive Officer, Rodger Williams, said if the new centre goes ahead it would be an ‘exciting new era’ for the service provider as the facility will expand its delivery of  health care services at the highest level to whole community.  

“It will create better access for more members of the Tamworth community to benefit from the specialist health care services we provide to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people,” he said.

Cr Murray said if Councillors decide to proceed with a community consultation process, the first steps would most likely include an information session involving representatives from the medical service and Council staff.

Tuesday night’s Council meeting starts at 6.30pm in the Chambers on Level 4 of Ray Walsh House at 437 Peel Street, Tamworth. Community members are welcome to attend.