Mr WOOD - 2013-08-28
Anyone visiting the Borroloola region during the Dry Season would notice a large influx of grey nomads, many of them heading to King Ash Bay to do some fishing or driving along the Savannah Way to Darwin. I spoke to some on my recent trip in the area and know many older people rely on local facilities for their medical needs. From what I have heard locally, this puts a strain on health facilities in Borroloola. Are there plans to upgrade facilities such as the medical clinic to cope with increasing visitor numbers and the growing population of Borroloola? What happened to the $800 000 set aside for the clinic in the 2012-13 budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The population of Borroloola does swell during the Dry Season. We believe an extra 400 people will move to the Borroloola region as a result of tourism and the ebb and flow of residents from that area. There are between 2000 and 2500 people living in the Roper Gulf Shire and we believe the Borroloola clinic copes adequately with those numbers. They have four full-time positions. We recognise the clinic infrastructure has been neglected somewhat. It has not been extended at the rate it should have been to cater for the increased demand, particularly during the different ebbs and flows of the population.
Repairs and maintenance expenditure in 2012-13 was $145 000 for urgent minor repairs, and $47 000 for cyclical maintenance. The electrical switchboard is being replaced at a cost of around $120 000. Urgent repairs and maintenance work commenced in May 2013 and will be completed by September 2013. There is $500 000 in the 2013-14 repairs and maintenance budget to refurbish the whole clinic.
Borroloola is a remote clinic. We have 56 remote health centres throughout the Northern Territory, and we have a direct funding relationship with another 18. Borroloola is very remote, and the pressure on that service is considerable when there is an influx of people to that area. Trying to meet the demands of chronic disease and the general poor health status of people in that area is a battle in itself. On top of that, we have the urgent emergency needs of tourists who come into the area.
It is a challenge, we are aware of it, and thanks, member for Nelson, for alerting us to this problem. I will be seeking more information. I intend to visit Borroloola as soon as next week to get a picture of what is happening.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The population of Borroloola does swell during the Dry Season. We believe an extra 400 people will move to the Borroloola region as a result of tourism and the ebb and flow of residents from that area. There are between 2000 and 2500 people living in the Roper Gulf Shire and we believe the Borroloola clinic copes adequately with those numbers. They have four full-time positions. We recognise the clinic infrastructure has been neglected somewhat. It has not been extended at the rate it should have been to cater for the increased demand, particularly during the different ebbs and flows of the population.
Repairs and maintenance expenditure in 2012-13 was $145 000 for urgent minor repairs, and $47 000 for cyclical maintenance. The electrical switchboard is being replaced at a cost of around $120 000. Urgent repairs and maintenance work commenced in May 2013 and will be completed by September 2013. There is $500 000 in the 2013-14 repairs and maintenance budget to refurbish the whole clinic.
Borroloola is a remote clinic. We have 56 remote health centres throughout the Northern Territory, and we have a direct funding relationship with another 18. Borroloola is very remote, and the pressure on that service is considerable when there is an influx of people to that area. Trying to meet the demands of chronic disease and the general poor health status of people in that area is a battle in itself. On top of that, we have the urgent emergency needs of tourists who come into the area.
It is a challenge, we are aware of it, and thanks, member for Nelson, for alerting us to this problem. I will be seeking more information. I intend to visit Borroloola as soon as next week to get a picture of what is happening.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016