walls. "So that may mean ‘do we look at a new hospital alongside what is currently here, do we in-fill, demolish part of it, etc’- those are the kind of things that will need to be looked at in this planning process Ms Skinner said. Planning On 10 March 2015 Health Minister Jillian Skinner and Goulburn MP Pru Goward announced a re-elected Baird Government will invest $120 million for the major redevelopment of Goulburn Hospital. Mrs Skinner said works will begin on-site in the next term of the Baird Government, if re-elected on 28 March. "The need for a major upgrade at Goulburn Hospital is clear, which is why we are making this significant investment to ensure this facility can deliver first-class care for patients well into the future", Mrs Skinner said. "The upgrade of Goulburn Hospital will include improved capacity through fit-for-purpose infrastructure including the emergency department, intensive care unit and theatres, inpatient services and a comprehensive ambulatory care service. "Planning will continue over the coming months to identify what other services could be incorporated into the redevelopment." Mrs Skinner said the announcement will have wide-reaching benefits, particularly for the 16,000-plus patients who attend the Goulburn Hospital emergency department each year. "The Baird Government committed $600,000 in its first term to plan the upgrade of Goulburn and in our second term we are committed to this major redevelopment", "I’ve visited Goulburn Hospital on many occasions and the clinicians and community have been champions of this redevelopment. I know it will benefit them greatly and act as a magnet to attract staff to this region Ms Skinner said. Ms Goward said the funding will mark a new era in health care for Goulburn Hospital. "Goulburn Hospital is a strong thread in the fabric of our community. It is where we have welcomed new life and farewelled loved ones and I could not be prouder we are committing to its major redevelopment today", Ms Goward said."This has been a long road and I want to thank clinicians and the community for standing alongside me to champion this redevelopment – the need for it is clear. "Goulburn deserves a state-of-the-art hospital and under the Baird Government that is exactly what we will get.". There has been some criticism since that announcement of the lack of progress with planning (for instance, the delayed decision as to the site of the new facilities), and