Letters

Hospital site

Ed, I refer to correspondent Tom Porter of Gulmarrad regarding possible refurbishment of Grafton Base Hospital (CVI 14/11/18). Firstly I thought Mr Porter’s suggestion was not serious but on reflection obviously he was. There is already a hospital at Maclean close to the motorway and out of flood reach which currently serves the Lower River area well. Grafton Base Hospital is well past its use by date and is inadequate for the future needs of the Clarence Valley. It is in a conjested area with poor parking, poor access and much of it is run down and in desperate need of replacement. It would seem to me that a better location for a new hospital would be in the Clarenza area or near Grafton and District airport. Both locations are completly flood free, near the new motorway, district airport, new gaol, plenty of room for expansion, closer to where the greater population resides. It would also provide easy and quick access via existing roads and new motorway for both the upper and lower river area. Chris Darby, Junction Hill