By Ben SMEE

While Wagga Base Hospital waits, Sydney gets brand new facility. Construction will not begin on the new Wagga Base Hospital for three years, but Sydney will have another fully operational, state-of-the-art hospital in 2010.

Health minister John Hatzistergos yesterday announced plans for a new $300 million Northern Beaches hospital at Sydney's Frenchs Forest, with construction set to begin in the second half of next year.

In contrast, the long-awaited Wagga Base Hospital is bogged down in a planning process that is not likely to end until 2009, despite being on the agenda of various state governments for more than 20 years.

Wagga Mayor Kerry Pascoe questioned whether politics had played a part in the decision to build the new Frenchs Forest hospital.

"It does deeply concern me when Wagga is in great need of a new hospital," Cr Pascoe said.

"It seems to be the state government doing what they usually do and giving to the metropolitan areas"

Cr Pascoe said that he had discussions with Greater Southern Area Health Service chief executive Stuart Schneider, and he understood that the process was still on track for the new Wagga Base Hospital.

Wagga MP Daryl Maguire said that the government could not possibly achieve its goals for the Frenchs Forest hospital.

"They've done no planning Wagga is far more advanced and moving on to the next stage," Mr Maguire said.

"A lot of work has gone into our plans (for Wagga Base) ... we will continue to work towards the building of our hospital," Mr Maguire said.

Speaking at the press conference yesterday, Mr Hatzistergos described the planning process as "a very complex task".

Representatives from the Greater Southern Area Health Service were unwilling to comment yesterday, saying they could not make comparisons between Wagga Base and the Frenchs Forest proposal.

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Wagga Wagga

Friday, March 31, 2006