Demolitions have begun at the main building of Mona Vale Hospital on Coronation Street. The asbestos-ridden site, which has been closed since October, will be replaced with a new ambulance station, while private health providers have been sought to revitalise the new health care centre.
“This demolition work will make way for the new NSW Ambulance station and is part of the largest investment in health services on the northern beaches in decades,” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.
Mr Hazzard also said that for years, regular air tests were conducted two-monthly at Mona Vale Hospital to ensure that there were no asbestos leaks. Mona Vale Hospital’s main building provided emergency care, maternity care, and other acute services.
“It’s for this exact reason we have commenced the essential process of building brand new facilities at Mona Vale Hospital,” the health minister said.
Some residents, however, have staunchly opposed the revitalisation and privatisation as public hospital services around the Northern Beaches have been dwindling in numbers. The locals had hopes that the main building will be reinstated, not demolished, following the redevelopment.
The group Save Mona Vale Hospital has been campaigning to retain the main building “provide emergency, surgery, maternity and other acute services at a minimum of a Level 3 standard for the public good.”
Members of the group Mona Vale Hospital’s Emergency & Surgical Must Be Returned, on the other hand, have been writing government officials to retain the main hospital building.
“Mona Vale Hospital has been part of the Northern Beaches community since the early 1960s and is part of our modern heritage. The decision to knock down the main building after 2018 is opposed by the local community. The main Mona Vale Hospital building is the largest piece of infrastructure in the Pittwater area and still has value even if put to other uses,” Mark Horton said in his letter to Councillor Rob Stokes.
With the main building gone, acute, maternity and emergency care services are now being undertaken at the Northern Beaches Hospital some 13.2 kilometres away.
