Bulahdelah And District Health Action Group

04/02/2026

We attended the information session yesterday at Manning Base Hospital cafetaria re the Stage 2 Redevelopment.

* We are going to receive a watered down version of
what was originally promised which is simply not
good enough! Constant delays since the funding
was announced have meant that the $180 million
is now no longer sufficient to complete Stage 2
in its entirety.

* It was debated and voted unanimously in the
Legislative Assembly in August 2024 that our
Petition of 12005 signatures calling for the
completion of Stage 2 & 3 Redevelopment of the
Manning Base Hospital to be finished in its entirety
within the terms of this Government.

* This is not happening!

* Shortage of beds is identified as one of the major
problems.

* Yet we are going to get 3 levels of 28 beds
totalling 84 beds instead of 4 levels of 28 beds
totalling 112. There will be a 4th level but this will
only be a shell not fitted out at all.

* Once the new units are complete apparently the
old bed spaces are to be closed.

* According to the Government’s own formula our
hospital servicing a population of 100,000 should
have 250 beds. It falls far short of that!
During holiday times the population explodes
particularly in Forster, Harrington and Pacific
Palms.

* We are getting a new morgue but the capacity is
unclear.

* There will only be a short spine connecting the
new building to the old joining on to the existing
internal corridor instead of a fully fitted out
external spine.

* There will only be a shell of a Pharmacy instead of
it being fully fitted out.

* There will only be a shell of a Pathology instead of
it being fully fitted out.

* There will be no new loading dock.

* No plans finalised for the Urgent Care Centre in
Forster.

* A Building Company has been assigned to the
Redevelopment.

* According to the HNEH team yesterday
Commencement date should be in June 2026
Completion date expected to be in 2028 not 2026
as stated by Health Minister Ryan Park when
questioned by Dr Amanda Cohn during the Senate
Estimates Committee meeting 2023.

We have waited 10 years and lobbied extensively to all political parties to get to this stage!

THIS AREA DESERVES BETTER!

23/01/2026

Plans to redevelop Manning Base Hospital are moving ahead, with public feedback now open. But a loca

20/08/2025

25/06/2025

💰IT’S BUDGET DAY

Today, the Treasurer will hand down the Labor Government’s State Budget for 2025-26.

This budget establishes our state's foundations over the next four years, and importantly, shows the priorities of the government.

I hope that regional areas like the Myall Lakes will receive their fair share in this years budget.

✍️ Earlier this year I wrote a letter to the Premier and Treasurer requesting considerations to be made to provide funding for these priority projects:

- Stage 3 of the Manning Hospital redevelopment
- A roundabout at Failford Road & The Lakes Way
- A long-term dredging plan for Wallis Lake
- Funding to keep Farquhar Inlet permanently open
- Replacement of the Tuncurry Slipway
- Upgrades to Wingham Rehabilitation Hospital
- Operational funding for the Forster Neighbourhood Centre
- Support for the Wingham Youth Boxing Facility
- A commitment to fund healthcare services in Bulahdelah

On top of this I continue to advocate for our region's key issues, such as cost of living measures, housing affordability and accessibility and improvement to our road network.

I look forward to seeing what the budget holds for the Myall Lakes electorate.

24/06/2025

Today is the day.

If Manning Base Hospital isn’t named in the NSW Budget with a new commitment, we are in serious trouble.

We were promised a Stage 2 redevelopment. But what we’re getting is Stage 1.75 at best.

Here’s what’s now off the table:

❌ One entire floor of the hospital – gone

❌ The new hospital ‘spine’ connecting old & new buildings – abandoned

❌ No new pathology

❌ No new pharmacy

❌ No additional operating theatres

❌ No new emergency department

❌ No significant increase in beds

Instead of true investment, we’ve been shoehorned into a $100M funding envelope that was already inadequate — and even with an extra $80M, it’s still not enough to complete Stage 2 properly.

Meanwhile, we’re being spun a line about the “Lower Mid North Coast Health Service project” — including a “Forster–Tuncurry facility” that may not even be a hospital. No one knows what this actually means.

This is unacceptable.

Our community has been patient. We are kind and tolerant. But this is about lives — and this funding failure is putting them at risk.

This was not a priority under the former Liberal–National Government. And it’s clearly not a priority under Labor either.

We need honesty.
We need transparency.
And we need proper funding today!

Ryan Park MP Hunter New England Local Health District, and (sorry still blocked), our community deserves answers.

Do not play politics with our lives.

Like, share, cross post - every community member needs to know what is going on.

Manning Great Lakes Community Health Action Group
Manning River Times
Forster Fortnightly

22/05/2025

Thousands of people remain isolated amid unprecedented flooding in parts of NSW, which has now been declared a natural disaster (ABC).

GIVIT has partnered with the NSW Government to manage donations of essential goods and services for people impacted by severe flooding in the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.

The best way for you to help people and communities recover from this event is to donate through GIVIT here: https://www.givit.org.au/take-action/ways-to-give/give-against-an-appeal/new-south-wales-flooding

100% of the publicly donated money they receive is used to purchase essential goods needed by people impacted. They also buy vouchers and other items locally, wherever possible, to support local businesses.

You have the power to help provide emergency relief to people affected by flooding in NSW through GIVIT.

🚨 Reminder - please do not send or drop unrequested donations into impacted areas, as this can hinder recovery efforts.

04/05/2025

Please do the survey. This is your chance to make a difference to our local health services

NSW Health is seeking feedback from regional communities on the draft Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) Strategy.

A Multi-Purpose Service is a health hub in small rural and remote towns that provides health services and residential aged care.

Help shape the future of healthcare in your area by completing the community survey on the draft MPS Strategy.

Visit the MPS webpage to find the draft MPS Strategy and survey: https://ow.ly/Kows50VF43F

24/03/2025

Elective surgery waiting list grows while fewer surgeries performed.

20/03/2025

13/03/2025

🏥 MANNING HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT

A builder has been appointed for the Stage 2 Redevelopment of Manning Hospital.
AW Edwards has been selected to carry out the enabling works, which will begin in the coming weeks.

These works will involve demolishing the administration building, relocating two bulk oxygen tanks, and preparing the site for the main construction phase.

Planning and design for the redevelopment are still underway, with input from hospital staff, stakeholders, and the community helping shape the final plans. Detailed designs will be released later this year for more community feedback.

I’m excited to see the work begin at Manning Hospital.

🏥 FORSTER TUNCURRY HEALTH FACILITY

I’m looking forward to discussing the progress of the Lower Mid North Coast Health Service project – Forster Tuncurry Health Facility – with Minister Ryan Park in the coming weeks and will keep the community updated as these important projects move forward.