Many people in Dunedin protested on Saturday about the hospital rebuild project being reconsidered. Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan said just two weeks ago, mayors were assured the hospital plans would continue. He wants the government to show the cost figures because they should have known about budget problems when they promised to keep the project going during the last election.
The National government says the previous Labour government hid problems with the project. Health Minister Shane Reti insists they are committed to building the new hospital and have increased funding by hundreds of millions of dollars. Before being elected, National promised a fully functional hospital, not just a temporary fix.
A government report suggests the current hospital plans may exceed the latest $1.8 billion budget and could rise to $3 billion. Options like cutting parts of the plan or developing the old site are being discussed. Cadogan doubts the $3 billion estimate, suggesting it includes costs for side projects, like parking, that should not be added.
He criticized the government, saying, “We want to see the actual figures; we don’t believe it will cost $3 billion.” He added that issues from the past elections should mean the project remains a priority and not be affected by tax relief cuts.
Around 35,000 people marched through Dunedin to oppose the proposed cuts. Cadogan feels misled about the project’s status and emphasizes that health facilities need to be up-to-date or people’s lives could be at risk. He says the government must deliver what they promised and build the hospital properly.
The government responded that they are committed to the hospital project, and Minister Reti explained that tough choices are necessary to support other hospitals’ needs. Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop pointed to the Labour government for not disclosing the project’s troubles earlier.
Cadogan joined the protest because he believes all regions deserve quality health services, and he wants transparency about the costs. He stated, “New Zealand deserves better, and the southern region deserves better solutions.”
