In the past three months, the only sign of work on Shellharbour Hospital from the main road is the absence of a sign.
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The Mercury last photographed the site on June 24 and not much had changed upon a follow-up inspection on Monday - although the blue and white hospital sign has been taken down.
It seems the multi-million redevelopment is at somewhat of a standstill with a decision still pending on whether the project will proceed on the current site - or whether the entire hospital will move to a new site.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has put a strong case forward for a greenfield site for the hospital to the Ministry of Health, and board chair Denis King said he hoped for an answer in the next few weeks.
It comes down to funding of course. The state government announced $251 million for the redevelopment of the ageing hospital in 2015. This May, the federal government pitched in a further $128 million.
However with the cost of rebuilding a new hospital on a greenfield site estimated to come in around $600 million - there is a more than a $200 million shortfall.
While $20 million has already been spent on early works at the current site, Professor King said no new contracts would be awarded until a decision on an alternative site was made.
"The building work at the current site will be finished because it is contracted," Mr King said. "And the money spent on the current works will be beneficial for the site, whatever the decision."
Prof King said the district's case for a greenfield site had been given a "good hearing from the Minister and the ministry".
"I understand the general view is that what we're proposing would be a good thing - the issue is the money and we do understand there's only a certain amount of funds available," he said.
A site has not yet been earmarked but Prof King said it would need to be close to rail and road, and not "significantly north or south" of its current location.
"It would mean we can reconfigure Shellharbour from a relatively small district facility to a facility that will better fit with the network services of the district," he said.
"It will allow us to take the pressure off Wollongong Hospital, and deliver much more co-ordinated services across the whole district.
"It will also allow us to future proof the site. The current site is restricted and a greenfield site would allow for future expansion as the population increases."
A Health Infrastructure spokesperson said the NSW government's $274 million commitment for Shellharbour's redevelopment - including $23.4 million for a multi-storey car park - would deliver "expanded medical, surgical and emergency department services to meet local needs".
"NSW Health and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District are considering the options available with the Australian Government's recent additional funding of $128 million for the project," the spokesperson said.
"A decision will be made once further feasibility and planning has been carried out."
Early works started at the site, at Madigan Boulevard and Lake Entrance Road, Mt Warrigal, in late 2018 and are on track for completion by the end of the year.
"These early works include the delivery of an at-grade car park and road works," the spokesperson said. "This work will enhance current car parking and access on the current site pending a decision on the potential redevelopment options."
Labor's health spokesman Ryan Park said local members from all sides of politics were working with the government, clinicians and health infrastructure experts on the future of services to be provided in Shellharbour.
The Keira MP said this included the consideration of a greenfield site following the commitment of additional funds by the Federal Government.
"We want to make sure that the final decision with respect of health services at Shellharbour Hospital is the best one possible and that it will help to deal with immediate pressures on the system and cater for the future demand growth," he said.