Rhett Burnie
A WALLAN community group member has accused the Federal Government of employing ‘used car salesman’ tactics in its bid to secure a portion of Hadfield Park as the site for a $3.5 million superclinic.
Wallan Environment Group Secretary Claudia James said the community is being pressured into handing over a portion of the park, with hints made by the Federal Government and Mitchell Shire Council that the project may not go ahead if land isn’t secured soon.
“They’re using that used car salesman tactic ‘if you don’t do this today, it won’t happen’,” Ms James said.
She said the environment group was not opposed to the superclinic but did not want it built in Hadfield Park because public space was already limited in Wallan.
“The community is growing but public space is shrinking.”
Ms James said it was important that public space in the town was retained, with the area earmarked for a huge population boom in the near future.
Several new housing estates are already under way, while another is expected to draw around 3000 residents to Wallan in the next five years.
“There should be some process in place for the purchase of land for these facilities,” she said.
“The shire is just expected to hand over land.
“We’re not against a superclinic; we’re against using public open space for it.”
She said the council needed to show some ‘backbone’ and conserve community space in Wallan.
“They’re just rolling over all the time.”
Ms James’ calls come after the group collected 740 signatures for a petition opposing the use of Hadfield Park for the clinic at Saturday’s Wallan Market.
“We claim that about two out of three people approached have signed it,” she said.
But Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell said Ms James’ concerns were misguided.
“Ms James seems to have misunderstood the role of the Federal Government in the funding of the superclinic,” he said.
“Since 2007 the Federal Government has allocated $3.5 million for a GP superclinic in Wallan.
“This is the biggest investment in health that Wallan has ever received.”
He said the predicted population boom for Wallan meant more health services were needed.
Mr Mitchell said Wallan was facing a “severe shortage of health services” which been outlined in a number of reports.
“With the rapid growth of the township of Wallan the council must act to ensure infrastructure is in place to cater for the needs of the families.”
He said the superclinic needed to be central, accessible and close to other community infrastructure.
“Mitchell Shire have proposed the location of Hadfield Park as the site for the Wallan superclinic, so our community can benefit from increased health services, this was not a decision of the Federal Government,” he said.
“I have secured this funding because the township of Wallan and its surrounds are in need of health services.”
The superclinic will be operated by Mitchell Community Health Service.
Mitchell Shire councillor Kelley Stewart said the shire was looking into making Wallan’s Green Hill a community space.
“I would like to see it used as a public space initiative.”
Ms Stewart said the council are the managing committee of Green Hill and are looking at developing the space, possibly with a look-out, walking paths and bike track.
