The appointment of an architect to design the new Batlow Multi Purpose service building to replace the Batlow Hospital has been announce by NSW Health Minister John Hatzistergos.

Following a tender process, the firm of Rice Daubney Architects has been commissioned to undertake the Project Definition and detailed design planning for the MPS.

The firm will also be designing MPS facilities for Berrigan and Junee, and a completely refurbished Emergency Department at Griffith Base Hospital, said the Minister.

He said the detailed design for the three MPSs would see a continuation of planning that has been underway for some time.

He said each MPS facility would have residential aged care Beds, acute beds, emergency facilities, staff accommodation, ambulance stations and facilities for Community Health, and would be built on a greenfield site.

The Minister said the detailed design work was expected to allow tenders to be let for construction of all four projects in the first half of 2006.

There is still no news on whether the Government has agreed to increase its $7 million commitment to the Batlow project by the further $3 million regarded as necessary to bring it to the level of service and capability previously identified in studies, and for which the local MPS committee I and shire council have been lobbying hard.

The proposal long envisaged for the Batlow-Adelong MPS has involved a 24-bed facility with 5 acute beds and 19 residential aged care places (the latter split between eight high care beds, one respite bed and a 10-bed hostel.

Late last year it was projected the project would cost around $10 million, several million more than that calculated some three years ago. Since then the Government has promised $7 million, but there have been fears that could mean the project being cut back on community's and the committee's expectations.

Tumut & Adelong Times

Friday November 18 2005