Peninsula Community Access Edition 241
News Phone 4325 7369 Fax 4339 2307
7 June 2010
Andrews should re-open rehab unit, alliance says Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews should reopen the Rehabilitation Unit at Woy Woy Hospital if she was really concerned about the Peninsula community, according to the Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance. Alliance chairperson Mr Bob Mudge said it was an amazing coincidence that Ms Andrews broke her silence on the issue when the group of supporters had staged a protest at NSW Parliament House on June 1. Mr Mudge said Ms Andrews made an appearance outside Parliament House to confront Alliance protesters. He said that Ms Andrews claimed that the transitional unit at Woy Woy was an adequate replacement for the rehabilitation
Member for Gosford Marie Andrews with protesters from the Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance outside NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney
unit. Mr Mudge commented: “The transitional unit at Woy Woy is not a rehabilitation unit and its services are charged for.” “The Woy Woy Rehab Unit was not relocated to Wyong but closed and the patients were moved to Wyong. “If the Rehab Unit was closed because of a clinicians’ report in 2008, why was an internal recommendation in 2007 to increase the rehab beds on the Central Coast to 60, 30 at Woy Woy and 30 at Wyong ignored?” Mr Mudge said these were fair and valuable points that needed to be addressed by the State Government. Email, 2 Jun 2010 Bob Mudge, Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance
Andrews moves to use rehab space Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews has called on the State Government to refurbish “unused space” at Woy Woy Hospital. Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance has described the move as putting “other health services into our rehabilitation building”. Ms Andrews said: “The relocation of rehabilitation facilities has made space available, which I believe should be put to good use.
“It is clear that the rehabilitation services that moved to Wyong Hospital in December 2008 will not be returning to Woy Woy Hospital. “I am calling on the State Government to refurbish the available space at Woy Woy Hospital in order to improve services for our community. “Woy Woy Hospital already provides an After Hours GP Services, general medical care, hydrotherapy and other specialised services.
“The available space at Woy Woy Hospital could be used to provide better community health facilities to benefit the Peninsula, particularly residents in nearby aged care facilities. Ms Andrews said the soon-tobe released State Budget was a good opportunity for the State Government to provide funding for better services at Woy Woy Hospital. “I have spoken to both Premier Kristina Keneally and the Minister
for Health, Carmel Tebbutt about the need for better health services on the Peninsula,” she said. Ms Andrews said: “Collocating rehabilitation services with acute-care facilities, means less disruption and better care for patients by reducing the need for patient transfers. “This has brought the Central Coast in line with the nationally and internationally accepted model of care for patient rehabilitation. “A free courtesy bus has been
provided between Woy Woy, Gosford and Wyong Hospital to allow relatives and friends visit patients. “The bus is available Monday to Friday and bookings can be made seven days a week from 6.30am until 10.00pm.” Press release, 31 May 2010 Marie Andrews, Member for Gosford
Timed parking may go while carpark is built Gosford Council has asked the local traffic committee to consider the temporary removal of timed parking in the Woy Woy CBD and relevant surrounding streets as a matter of urgency. The issue comes after local commuters and residents have complained of the impact of the Woy Woy Commuter Carpark closure, despite the opening of a temporary car park near Woy Woy Oval to alleviate disruptions. According to council’s resolution, the review should take into consideration the impact of the temporary removal of timed parking on local businesses, with a report to be brought to council for a decision at the earliest opportunity.
In addition, council has voted to put in place a management plan, in conjunction with the Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation, to provide information on car parking areas within the Woy Woy transport node to allow for an increase in commuter car parking spaces during the redevelopment of the commuter car park. The plan is expected to be placed on public exhibition and highlighted in the local media to ensure commuters are notified of changes to parking areas around Woy Woy CBD. The notice of motion was put forward by Cr Terri Latella who tabled a petition of more than 600 signatures at the June 1 council meeting. Cr Latella said commuters,
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residents and visitors to Woy Woy were angry and frustrated with the availability of car parking within the CBD since the beginning of construction for the expansion of Woy Woy Commuter Car Park last month. Cr Latella said hundreds of commuters had also been issued with parking infringements since construction had begun and called for them to be waivered. However, general manager Mr Peter Wilson did not support the motion and said the process of waiving parking fines was illegal, posing a number of liability issues. Local commuter Ms Jennifer Richmond said she had been parking in the Woy Woy CBD for years and welcomed the expansion of the Woy Woy Commuter Car
Park. “More car parking spaces for Woy Woy is long overdue and it will be great to see the commuter car park reopened but until that time there needs to be some leniency with council,” Ms Richmond said. “Commuters have been forced to park on side streets, on footpaths and even get to the station much earlier than usual to secure a car spot. “Some Peninsula commuters even go to Gosford to risk the chance at getting a secure and legal car park. “Even when people have been parking in the same car spots for years in side streets it’s only now that they are getting fines... why start now? “There are no ‘no parking’ signs
to indicate otherwise.” Cr Craig Doyle acknowledged that the area was under pressure and something needed to be done to manage the problem. “It is unfortunate that this issue was not addressed in the initial planning stages of the project,” Cr Doyle said. “But now we are aware of the problem we need to take the opportunity to manage the issue appropriately and in a proactive way.” The issue is expected to be addressed at the local traffic committee’s next meeting on June 7. Clare Graham, 1 Jun 2010 Council agenda NM.12, 1 Jun 2010
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