• PHOTO: The WNSWLHD says damage to the road leading out of Coonamble hospital will soon be fixed.
WORKS to repair damage to the road leading out of the Coonamble Multi-Purpose Health Service is expected to commence over the next few weeks.
The road damage was raised at the June meeting of Coonamble Shire Council, with councillors agreeing it was well-overdue.
Councillors Brian Sommerville and Ahmad Karanouh, Deputy Mayor Karen Churchill and Mayor Tim Horan all said they had been either approached about the damage or seen it for themselves.
According to Cr Churchill and Cr Karanouh, who were members of the previous council, this was not the first time holes in the hospital road had been brought to council’s attention.
“It’s definitely been there for a while, they’ve had troubles with that exit since my mum and dad were in hospital which was years ago and it’s gradually gotten worse over time,” Cr Churchill said.
“It was mentioned a couple of years ago asking if the shire could put any bitumen through there, however it was resolved that it was the hospital owners’ responsibility.”
Mayor Horan said in the meeting that remained the case and all council could do was make sure the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) was aware of the issue.
“All we can really do is note it’s been brought to council and talk to the hospital,” he said.
“We can’t make them do anything, but I’m sure if they needed someone to do the work we could provide some assistance at a cost,” he said.
While the hospital had not received any reports of damages to vehicles as a result of the damage, a WNSWLHD spokesperson said it would be repaired in the near future.
“Minor damage to the road exiting the Coonamble Multi-Purpose Service has been identified for repair by the Western NSW Local Health District,” the spokesperson said.
“After recent heavy rainfall exacerbated the concern, repairs have been escalated and are expected to be completed in the coming weeks.”
Cr Churchill says she hopes roadworks elsewhere on the site would be not too far behind.
“I take nurses for driving lessons through the hospital grounds and I’ve seen a huge hole in the middle of the road that goes to the nurses quarters in the back of the hospital which is much bigger than the hole at the exit,” she said.