Monthly Archives: February 2019

The next steps towards construction of the $8 million Yass Hospital Redevelopment were taken on Monday, with Member for Goulburn Pru Goward, Yass Valley Council Mayor Rowena Abbey and Liberal Candidate for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman attending a ceremony to mark the first sod turned for the project.

“This is a significant milestone in the NSW Government’s commitment to upgrade Yass Hospital as part of the $300 million State-wide Multipurpose Service (MPS) program of works,” Ms Goward said.

Richard Crookes Constructions has been appointed to commence work on the redevelopment, which will include a re-located and refurbished Emergency Department, an additional emergency department treatment bay, dedicated ambulance entry point, an increase in inpatient beds from 10 to 12, improved community and allied health facilities and ongoing access to X-ray services.

“The project will integrate community health, acute and emergency services to provide flexible and improved health service delivery,” Ms Tuckerman said.

“The re-organisation of outpatient facilities will assist in the flexible provision of services for the community. The staff accommodation will improve facilities for both nursing and medical staff,” Ms Tuckerman continued.

The MPS Stage 5 program of works includes upgrades to over 15 facilities, with $8 million set aside for the Yass Hospital redevelopment. Whilst the funding is being provided from this program Yass Hospital will continue to operate the same services as it currently does. Aged care will continue to be provided by the aged care providers in Yass.

This further adds to the extensive investment by the NSW Government in a number of facilities across the District. Including $120 million allocated and another $30 million announced for the Goulburn Health Service, with a new clinical services building at Goulburn Base Hospital as the main element of the project; $2.5 million worth of works for Crookwell District Hospital will commence straight away and will deliver:
– Improved emergency department with increased capacity
– Improvements to the minor procedures area
– Improved ward areas for inpatients throughout the hospital, including patient rooms and bathrooms
– Medical equipment upgrades, including ECG machines, defibrillator and a transport ventilator

To find out more about the Yass Hospital Redevelopment please contact the Capital Works team on SNSWLHD-Redevelopments@health.

Gundaroo’s family-owned winery, Tallagandra Hill, will soon be welcoming overnight visitor’s thanks to a funding boost from the NSW Government to help build three new cottages.

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward joined Liberal Candidate for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman to announce Tallagandra Hill Winery securing $150,000 from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Fund.
“Located in the beautiful Yass Valley, Tallagandra Hill Winery is one of our region’s top wineries and I’m delighted to announce they will benefit from NSW Government funding, aimed at boosting local economies through product development support,” Ms Goward said.

“The funds will see three boutique cottages built to cater for overnight visitors, which is a first for the property.

“The funding will also be used to install pergolas, landscaping, walkways and other external facilities to enhance the visual appeal and functionality of an existing building to cater for special functions and events.

“More and more travellers from across Australia and the world are learning about the great cool-climate wines produced in our region and with strengthened investment in Gundaroo, we look forward to welcoming more visitors as a result of this exciting new development,” Ms Tuckerman said.

David Faulk, from Tallagandra Hill Winery, said they were delighted to receive such generous support from the NSW Government

“Our aim is for Tallagandra Hill Winery to be the preferred regional destination for special events and unique rural tourism experiences, linked to our single vineyard wines, family-focused cuisine and beautiful Gundaroo landscape.

“The funding will help us make our much loved property more accessible and more desirable to local, national and international visitors. It will help us provide a unique offering, with special features not available anywhere else,” Mr Faulk said.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall congratulated Tallagandra Hill Winery on their successful initiative and said the NSW Government is doing everything it can to drive more visitors to rural and regional areas.

“The Regional Tourism Fund is part of our strategy to boost tourism right across the State and increase visitation to our wonderful regions which in turn, supports the local economy and jobs,” Mr Marshall said.

“We are excited to see more travellers visit this corner of the State as a result of this funding boost, as the NSW Government is working towards our goal of tripling overnight visitor expenditure and reaching $25 billion in regional visitor expenditure by 2030.”

The Regional Tourism Fund is part of the NSW Government’s record funding commitment of $43 million over four years. The Fund provides investment into the regional visitor economy on a matched dollar-for-dollar basis.

For more information on the Regional Tourism Fund go to, http://www.destinationnsw.com.au/regionaltourismfund.

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward welcomed 50 new nursing and midwifery graduates to Southern NSW Local Health District, launching their careers at local hospitals and health services. 

“Nursing and midwifery graduates are an integral part of our workforce and will go on to make a huge difference in the lives of local patients and their families,” Ms Goward said. 

“A career in nursing and midwifery provides a range of opportunities. They will be working in a range of clinical settings including surgical and medical specialties, paediatrics, community, mental health and maternity.” 

The NSW Government’s commitment to increase the number of nurses and midwives in our hospitals has been increasing since 2011. 

Over a quarter of the 2019 graduate nurses and midwives will start their careers in rural and regional locations across NSW. 

Liberal Candidate for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said nurses and midwives are the backbone of the State’s public health system and welcomed the record number of graduates.  

“Around the clock, 365 days a year our nurses and midwives are on the frontline of the NSW health system providing care to patients,” Ms Tuckerman said. 

“The commitment and compassion of our nurses and midwives, combined with their outstanding clinical skills, significantly contribute to the health and wellbeing of the people of NSW. 

“I can’t thank our new graduates enough for choosing a career in caring for the sick and vulnerable in our community.” 

The 2018/19 State Budget has added 1,370 health staff, including 300 medical practitioners, 950 nurses and midwives and 120 allied health professionals – resulting in a record frontline clinical and clinical support staff of over 105,000 people. 

The Yass Lawn Tennis Club (YLTC) has secured $12,000 in funding for repairs and upgrade of the Clubhouse roof  through the NSW Government’s 2018 Community Building Partnership (CBP) Program.  

Member for Goulburn, Pru Goward recently joined Liberal Candidate for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman, YLTC Executives Greg Martin, Paul Twohill, Michele Whitters and Lorraine Glover to inspect the roof and discuss the restoration project. 

Ms Goward said the State Government funds will provide much-needed improvements to the YLTC for meets and events.  

“The CBP program is fantastic for the Goulburn electorate – the grassroots funding means the YLTC can help create a more vibrant and inclusive local community”, Ms Goward said.  

Ms Tuckerman said the NSW Government’s strong economic management ensures we are in a position to invest in these important local projects like the YLTC. 

“I congratulate Paul Twohill, Greg Martin and Michele Whitters as well as all of the organisations that were successful in their Community Building Partnership applications – I look forward to seeing how these projects make a real difference for community groups in the area,” Ms Tuckerman said.  

Ms Witters thanked the NSW Government for providing the funding. 

“The funding will ensure the Clubhouse remains a hub for tennis enthusiasts and also for other groups in the Yass community,” Ms Witters said. 

The Community Building Partnership program has funded some 13,800 community projects since it commenced nearly a decade ago.  

For more information about the NSW Government’s 2018 Community Building Partnership Program, visit http://www.nsw.gov.au/cbp 

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward announced a Saving our Species grant of $350,000 from the NSW Government to Greening Australia for its work in Black Cockatoo Habitat Restoration on Thursday. 

The project will aim to restore habitat specifically for the Glossy Black-cockatoo through planting primarily forage trees (Allocasuarina) and other woodland trees such as Eucalypts and Acacias and protect large mature eucalypts. 

Ms Goward congratulated Greening Australia for winning a grant to support the significant work they do for the environment. 

“The funding will also include a landholder awareness aspect for the birds and their habitat needs through a series of workshops.  

“The scale and specific design of the projects will benefit an additional suite of threatened woodland birds including the Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail, Speckled Warbler, Scarlet Robin, Flame Robin and Dusky Woodswallow.  

Liberal Candidate for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman welcomed the funding. 

 “The work this grant will fund will result in major benefits for the local environment as well as the community,” Ms Tuckerman said. 

Nicki Taws from Greening Australia said the funding provides a great opportunity to continue and expand the work that has been done with the community over the last 7 years for the Glossy BlackCockatoo.  

“This endearing bird provides an ideal focus for us to engage local landholders and achieve habitat gains for a whole range of other threatened woodland birds,” Ms Taws said. 

NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said that 28 organisations across NSW were sharing in more than $8 million of funding. 

“The projects will deliver help threatened species and threatened ecological communities,” the minister said. 

The Saving our Species Contestable Grant Program is a partnership between the Saving our Species program and the NSW Environmental Trust.  

The NSW Government’s Saving our Species program is investing $100 million over five years to secure the future of NSW threatened plants and animals.  

For more information on Saving our Species visit: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sos