More than two years ago NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard first raised the possibility of redeveloping Shellharbour Hospital on a greenfield site.
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It was October 2017 - at a time when the state government was still deciding whether the ageing hospital would be redeveloped under a public-private partnership or remain solely in public hands.
"Shellharbour Hospital is definitely in need of renewal," Mr Hazzard said at the time. "But the question is whether to proceed with a renewal on the existing site or move to a greenfield site."
The plan to part-privatise the hospital was scrapped later that month. However the question of whether the hospital will continue to be redeveloped on its current site at Mount Warrigal - or a new, undeveloped site closeby - remains unanswered.
On Friday, the Mercury again tried to get an answer - or some indication on when an announcement would be made on the hospital's future from Mr Hazzard. However the health minister was unavailable for comment.
The lack of a decision either way leaves the multi-million dollar redevelopment - and its staff - in limbo.
Indeed a photo of one area of the site taken on Friday, shows little progress from a photo at the same location in June this year.
There's now just over $400 million allocated for the rebuild - the initial $251 million announced by the state government in 2015, and its later $23 million commitment for a multi-storey carpark; plus an extra $128 million which the federal government pitched in this May.
The first sod was turned on the site in November 2018, with early works then getting under way.
On Friday, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District chief executive Margot Mains confirmed the early works - which include the delivery of an at-grade car park and road works - would be finished by the end of the month.
"This work will enhance current car parking and access on the current site pending a decision on the potential redevelopment options," she said.
Ms Mains said the redevelopment would deliver expanded medical, surgical and emergency department services to meet local needs.
She said NSW Health and the health district were considering the options available with the additional federal funding.
"A decision will be made once further feasibility and planning has been carried out," she said.
Once that decision was made, Ms Mains said the district would be able to finalise plans for Port Kembla Hospital - including investigating opportunities to relocate some services where appropriate.