Council encourages community to support campaign for new hospital

Moree Plains Shire Council has welcomed the launch of a campaign by the Hon. Adam Marshall MP, Member for Northern Tablelands to secure funding for crucial upgrades at Moree Hospital, making the petition available at its Council offices. 

Mayor Cr Katrina Humphries demonstrated her strong support for Minister Marshall’s petition by being the first signatory on the petition and encouraged all community members to ensure that they also sign the petition.

“Health services are the lifeblood of rural and regional communities” she said.

“Without them we cannot provide for our existing population or attract new people to live in our area.

“Many of the hospitals within the New England North West have been or are currently in the process of upgrades, and a complete redevelopment of Moree’s hospital precinct is long overdue” she added.

Cr Humphries paid tribute to hardworking staff at the hospital, commenting "it's quite amazing the work that staff are doing under last century conditions," she said.

"We owe it to our community and our health workers to provide a modern, properly equipped hospital so that people can get the care they need locally rather than being forced to travel.”

Council is supporting the campaign for the redevelopment of the hospital precinct by providing copies of the petition at its customer service centres at the Max Centre, Boggabilla and Mungindi Customer Service offices and the Moree Big Sky Library. Additionally, residents can sign the petition at a Council hosted stand at the Jellicoe Park markets on Sunday 4 November 2018.

Mayor Humphries commented "our hospital is not just for Moree township, but services residents from all over the Shire and broader region”.

“We need to present a compelling case to the state government that the current standard is just not good enough for the Moree Plains, and every signature helps to do that.”

The petition is open until 30 November, 2018.