Love welcomes long-awaited Dongara health upgrades
Member for Moore Shane Love has welcomed upgrades to the Dongara Health Centre with the project now reaching the practical completion stage.
Mr Love said he was pleased to see works completed given the project was approved and funded under the previous National – Liberal Government being announced in March 2016.
Redevelopment works include a refurbished emergency department with triage reception, treatment and short stay spaces, a new ambulatory care unit, new consult rooms with telehealth capability, a child health room, upgraded main entry and waiting area, staff amenities and parking areas.
“The Dongara Health Centre upgrades have taken six years to deliver and I want to acknowledge the Dongara community for their patience while works were in progress,” Mr Love said.
“Importantly the $9.86 million works included an upgrade to the local aged care facility, Blake House which now has 12 beds, double the original number and with a dedicated palliative care suite.”
Mr Love said the upgrade to Blake House – announced in February 2017 by the former Government – was the only element of the Turquoise Coast Health Initiative (TCHI) to be funded by the Labor Government.
“Announced in 2017, the TCHI was a $22.46 million comprehensive program to transform health services from Dongara to Gingin,” he added.
“Labor defunded the project which was a tragedy for these communities as it addressed the many gaps in service they experience.”
Mr Love said the lack of funding or scheduled works on the Mullewa Health Centre was deeply concerning, given the funding for the upgrade was announced at the same time as the Dongara project in 2016.