And, Murrurundi locals will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on the proposed locations for the Murrurundi Health Service Redevelopment project at an information session next week.

The session will take place at the CWA meeting room, 109 Mayne Street, on Monday, December 11, and will kick off at 4pm with a two-hour drop in session.

A formal discussion and presentation will also be held from 6pm.

The project team will be available to answer any questions about the proposed project locations as well as the overall planning process.

Currently the most viable location for the redevelopment is in fact the same site as the existing facility, although other options have been considered.

Mr Swansborough said the various other settings assessed by the project team were not as strong as the existing site.  

The redevelopment project remains in the preliminary planning stage, with the scope of the project being finalised and the delivery time frame to be determined thereafter.

Aside from the Wilson Memorial Hospital, Murrurundi’s nearest neighbouring health care service is in Scone, 40 kilometres away; with the closest major regional centre of Tamworth 90 kilometres away.

Taking Murrurundi’s location into account, and considering various other health factors, the NSW Government announced the redevelopment project earlier this year, with Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen saying the government was committing $10 million to the building of the new facility.

“It is envisaged that the redevelopment will include the construction of a new health service building, which will provide more contemporary health facilities and additional primary and ambulatory care services to meet our community’s needs into the future,” he said.

“Our local Hunter New England Local Health District, with Health Infrastructure, are partnering to deliver the project under the Multipurpose Service Program.”