news, local-news, junee, medical centre, david shoebridge, amalgamations, merger, junee shire council
JUNEE’S deputy mayor Pam Halliburton has warned forced amalgamation could have an adverse affect on the town’s medical centre. Opened in July 2005, Junee Medical Centre has a staff of seven doctors and visiting allied health services. “It’s one of the reasons why Junee’s population continues to grow and why people can settle here from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, because we have excellent facilities,” councillor Halliburton said. General practitioner Darren Corbett said after Dr John Potts had died, it was just himself and Dr Ramzy Barsoum in town. “We were concerned about being able to attract more doctors to Junee,” Dr Corbett said. “We’ve had the ability to put on more staff and have continued to bulk bill.” The construction of the medical centre was done with Junee Shire Council’s help with a mutually beneficial rental arrangement put in place. Dr Corbett was worried a larger council might charge an amount which is far higher or ask the doctors to buy the centre – something which could endanger services. “If some corporate buys us, we’ll just walk away.” Any change to the medical centre would not just affect patients but could extend to the Junee Hospital. Dr Corbett said the centre provided doctors to the MPS. On a tour of regional councils, including Junee, NSW Greens MLC David Shoebridge met with council representatives. The party’s spokesman on local government said the National Party had failed to stand up for their community. Mr Shoebridge said bigger councils were not able to address the needs of their community as effectively. “It’s targeted local services aimed at specific local needs which are most at risk,” he said. “A bigger council won’t know its patch.”
Junee deputy mayor Pam Halliburton is warning residents of the medical centre may be threatened by amalgamation. Picture: Declan Rurenga
JUNEE’S deputy mayor Pam Halliburton has warned forced amalgamation could have an adverse affect on the town’s medical centre.
Opened in July 2005, Junee Medical Centre has a staff of seven doctors and visiting allied health services.
“It’s one of the reasons why Junee’s population continues to grow and why people can settle here from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, because we have excellent facilities,” councillor Halliburton said.
General practitioner Darren Corbett said after Dr John Potts had died, it was just himself and Dr Ramzy Barsoum in town.
“We were concerned about being able to attract more doctors to Junee,” Dr Corbett said.
“We’ve had the ability to put on more staff and have continued to bulk bill.”
The construction of the medical centre was done with Junee Shire Council’s help with a mutually beneficial rental arrangement put in place.
Dr Corbett was worried a larger council might charge an amount which is far higher or ask the doctors to buy the centre – something which could endanger services.
“If some corporate buys us, we’ll just walk away.”
Any change to the medical centre would not just affect patients but could extend to the Junee Hospital.
Dr Corbett said the centre provided doctors to the MPS.
On a tour of regional councils, including Junee, NSW Greens MLC David Shoebridge met with council representatives.
NSW Greens MLC David Shoebridge said targeted services such as the Junee Medical Centre were under threat by amalgamations. Picture: Declan Rurenga
The party’s spokesman on local government said the National Party had failed to stand up for their community.
Mr Shoebridge said bigger councils were not able to address the needs of their community as effectively.
“It’s targeted local services aimed at specific local needs which are most at risk,” he said.
