A new state of the art medical imaging facility, including a CT scanner, is coming soon to Glen Innes.
Glen Innes Severn Council has announced that the building at 146-148 Church Street, will be sold off to build a new medical imaging centre.
Mayor Margot Davies has said she is “really stoked about it”, calling it a win for the community that, like so many regional towns, are in desperate need for better access to all forms of healthcare.
“The building was the old Essential Energy building,” Mayor Davies said.
“Council purchased it three years ago, along with the house next to it, after a proposal for a museum was rejected.
“It just sat there for three years – we’re taking an underutilised asset and enabling a healthcare service for Glen.”
The building also contains a historically valuable engine out the back, which Council will retain as an asset.
While Council attracted a few informal suggestions about what to do with the building, an expression of interest was launched but only received one formal submission.
“We only got one response,” Davies said, “but it was a good response.”
Mayor Davies said it was crucial that Glen Innes, a town with an ageing population and few public transport options develop a more healthcare infrastructure and services, but also hopes it will attract more skilled workers to the town.
Simon Betts, the Director of New England CT, the company that will be providing the service has said that “over the last eight years, working in Glen Innes, it became clear to me that there was a significant gap in access to critical healthcare facilities for our community and surrounding regions.
“As a result, New England CT was formed, enabling us to bring a new service like Computed Tomography (CT) to the community.”
The “state of the art facility” will bring a cutting-edge computed tomography machine to Glen Innes.
“It will be a crucial step in ensuring that the people of Glen Innes and the surrounding areas receive the best possible medical care without having to travel long distances,” Betts said.
“We look forward to working closely with the Glen Innes Severn Council and the local community to make our vision a reality,” Betts said.
Davies has said that “Council is committed to improving healthcare accessibility, liveability and economic development.”
“By supporting this initiative and other local healthcare projects, we are enabling Glen Innes Severn to be a place where people can access quality healthcare, professionals want to live and work, and businesses can grow.”
The sale of the building and creation of the imaging services, Mayor Davies hopes, will help create jobs not only locally, but also attract more professionals to live and work in Glen Innes, and support other local businesses.
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