The proceeds from the sale of land on Darcy Road at Port Kembla for $8.6 million should be dedicated to the Wollongong electorate and help fund the re-opening of Wollongong Hospital’s B7 ‘ghost ward’ and social housing repairs.

Lots 1 & 2 Darcy Road were listed for sale in May and were deemed surplus to requirements by Property NSW.

An Illawarra-based industrial company has purchased the land.

Wollongong MP, Paul Scully wrote to the Treasurer of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet MP, a fortnight ago proposing five infrastructure projects that could do with a funding injection following the Treasurer’s request that the Federal Government provide more funding for infrastructure.

One project on his list was the refurbishment of B7 Ward at Wollongong Hospital, which even the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District says should be re-opened to help relieve pressure on the Emergency Department.

The remainder of the proceeds should be spent on accelerating repairs and maintenance in Wollongong’s social housing network of properties, which he also suggested should be a priority in his letter to the Treasurer.

Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“The $8.6 million proceeds of this substantial land sale at Port Kembla should remain in the Wollongong electorate and should be invested in re-opening the B7 Wollongong Hospital ‘ghost ward’.

“The remainder of the $8.6 million should be dedicated to social housing repairs and maintenance in the Wollongong local government area.

“I’m sick of the Berejiklian Government selling off publicly-owned assets and siphoning the millions to fund budget blowouts on Sydney projects while we get short-changed and are excluded from funding programs.

“These are local and publicly-owned assets, and if they are surplus to requirements, as was the case here, that doesn’t mean that the Government should feel free to pinch the money and run off to Sydney with it.”