A promised urgent care clinic for Legana is yet to get off the ground almost a year after the Tasmanian government pledged to build it.
The Liberals promised the Legana Health Hub at last year’s state election, saying it would give about 30,000 people across the region north of Launceston access to bulk-billed urgent care closer to home.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said at the time that construction was expected to start within 12 months, once planning approvals were in place.
Almost a year on, Labor MP Janie Finlay says there is still nothing to show for it.
“There is no mention in the budget, there is no dollar allocation and this community have had false hope raised,” she said.
“And again, this government have broken trust in the community and broken its promise.”
Finlay said the state government should be keeping communities updated on the commitments it makes.
“But what they do is they raise expectations at an election, they get the votes and then they go to crickets,” she said.
Legana mother-of-three Chloe, speaking alongside Labor, said the clinic was badly needed.
She said families should not have to drive into Launceston at night when a child is unwell.
“An urgent care clinic in Legana would be incredible for families like myself … it’s just something we really need out here because we just are really lacking in that department,” she said.
The premier today said the project was moving ahead.
He said a $3 million loan had recently been approved by the Tasmanian Development Board, clearing the way for work to begin “in the very near future”.
“We’re putting up the $3 million loan for a private practice to create a medical urgent care centre precinct,” he said.
“We’ve taken the lead and we would welcome any investment from the federal government, because … it’s their responsibility.”
The no-interest loan will be provided to Legana Medical Centre owners Prashanth Reddy Gangapuram and Sandhya Reddy Manchireddy.
The hub is planned as a multidisciplinary precinct, with more GP services and bulk-billed urgent care for the growing West Tamar community.
