Opposition, Geraldton council put Health Minister under pressure to visit Mullewa over hospital delays

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson is under mounting pressure to visit Mullewa and explain why a promise to revamp the town’s hospital has been delayed for six years with no progress. Moore MLA and deputy Opposition leader Shane Love has criticised the State Government for not giving more detail in Parliament about the progress of the redevelopment of the Mullewa Community Hospital. Mr Love delivered a grievance on November 17 regarding the project, stating the community of Mullewa had been left in the dark about the progress of the hospital. The commitment was announced in 2016, with construction set to begin in 2017, but the project has remained in the planning phase since then. Simon Millman, parliamentary secretary to the health minister, confirmed the government was still committed to building the new hospital, and said the project’s cost and timeline had been impacted by the pandemic and increasing labour and supply costs. Mr Love said the government’s comments lacked detail. “We have no indication when works will commence, only that the timeline will be determined through planning and consideration of funding,” he said. Mr Love said the government needed a clear, consistent plan for the project. “We need a firm start date on the Mullewa Community Hospital,” he said. “And we need the Minister to visit Mullewa to see for herself the disadvantage and inequity residents face in the absence of a promised health centre.” City of Greater Geraldton councillors are set to discuss a motion at its agenda forum on Tuesday night, brought forward by two of its Mullewa-based councillors Tarleah Thomas and Jennifer Critch. They want council to vote to extend an invitation to Ms Sanderson to visit Mullewa and discuss project delays with councillors and locals. They say attempts to obtain project information from local health representatives and local members has been “difficult and confusing” and that the local community simply wants to know if the project is going to proceed, and if so when and what services it will offer. “The saga of the Mullewa Hospital has become a further legacy project with no action occurring even though many promises and commitments have been made over many years. The Mullewa community is again concerned that the State has decided to cancel the project,” the motion reads. “We have been told on several occasions over the years that the design was completed, the tender documents were completed and the project was ready to proceed, only to see nothing happen.” When asked why the hospital had been delayed between 2017 and the pandemic, Ms Sanderson reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the project. “Planning has commenced for a redeveloped Mullewa Health Centre,” she said. “The new health centre will be built in consultation with the local community and will provide access to a range of health services and providers under one roof.”