News
GLNG project delivers benefits to Gladstone & regional communities
I am very pleased to hear of the recent announcement by GLNG Operations Pty Ltd of its intention to contribute $ 2.05 million to support Gladstone’s health infrastructure and services and rental and crisis housing accommodation services. This announcement is incredibly good news not just for the residents of Gladstone but also for those living in the surrounding regional areas who regularly travel to Gladstone for medical treatment.
GLNG Operations Pty Ltd’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Macfarlane said his company is pleased to deliver some immediate results for the Gladstone community to support critical social infrastructure and services. "We understand that the community needs to be supported to accommodate projects such as GLNG, which will deliver important economic benefits to the region."
Gladstone hospital is to receive $1 million funding for a $700,000 upgrade of the Gladstone Hospital’s High Dependency Unit (HDU) and $300,000 to establish a Medical Education Unit to train junior medical staff in Gladstone.
GLNG also committed $250,000 to the combined Rotary Clubs of Gladstone for the purchase and operation of a mini bus to transport outpatients who are undertaking medical services including oncology treatment, kidney dialysis and other serious medical treatments that require them to travel from Gladstone to Rockhampton.
Gladstone Regional Council will also receive a significant boost with up to $800,000 funding for the Council’s Community Advisory Service to support housing programs for the vulnerable members of the Gladstone Community.
The HDU is a 4-bed unit established in 1982 to provide services to patients with increased needs during their hospital stay. The $700,000 refurbishment will deliver four new beds and upgrade vital equipment such as heart rate monitors and oxygen tanks.
The $300,000 for the Medical Education Unit will enable a training program to be established to train junior medical staff at Gladstone Hospital. The impact of this will be more doctors for Gladstone with the first intern under the program starting at the beginning of next year.
The $250,000 investment for the acute medical conditions bus service to the Combined Rotary Clubs of Gladstone will include an initial contribution of $130,000 to purchase a mini bus with wheelchair access, and a further $120,000 over two years to fund ongoing operation of the bus. This service will be delivered in conjunction with the Gladstone Central Committee on the Ageing, who will provide housing for the bus, and the day to day administration of the facility at the Senior Citizens Centre, Port Curtis Place.
The funding announced by GLNG Operations Pty Ltd today is just the first step in demonstrating GLNG’s commitment to the Gladstone region in what will be an ongoing program of community and infrastructure investments over the next few years.
