FEDERAL funding has been committed to provide Orange with a second linear accelerator putting extra pressure on the state government to approve its portion of the deal.
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While federal funding was announced to purchase the linear accelerator, it is the state government that will need to provide funding to fit out the radiotherapy bunker and provide staff, goods and services.
Yesterday’s announcement by the Western NSW Local Health District (LHD) came following no allocation of funding in Tuesday night’s budget.
A statement released by Western NSW LHD chief executive Ron Dunham yesterday said they will await the NSW government budget on June 12 to see if the remaining funding will be allocated.
“While there has been a commitment from the commonwealth, this commitment needs to be supplemented by the NSW Ministry of Health and the NSW government and we are currently undergoing this process,” the statement said.
“We will be able to make a more definitive response when the state budget is handed down next month.”
Around $3-$3.5 million will be funded from the federal budget to purchase the unit, however another $3.5-$4.5 million will need to be provided from state coffers.
Member for Orange Andrew Gee has backed Orange’s bid to receive a second linear accelerator and said obtaining the federal government funding is a “tremendous boost to the case”.
“I’m hopeful that all of the approvals can be sorted out very quickly... it can only help our chances,” he said.
“It’s not a done deal yet and we really need this equipment urgently and even in the context of a tight state budget it’s not something we can do without.
“It’s news we’ve been waiting on for a long time.
“I’m sure it will be very well received not just in Orange but the whole central west.”
nadine.morton@ruralpress.com
