Community & Business
10 February, 2023
Private day surgery on the cards
A DAY surgery could be on the cards for Atherton after Tablelands Regional Council chief executive officer Gary Rinehart was questioned about the proposal at a recent meeting.
Council has moved to re-zone and subdivide a lot at 42 Mabel Street that would enable the facility to be located there.
“This application council made to itself to rezone and sub-divide an area of land that forms part of the medical precinct in Mabel Street,” he told council.
“That land is identified for a medical facility – council has had over the past 18 months since I’ve been here discussions with one potential proponent.
“During one of those con-versations it became evident that one of the barriers to successfully securing a facility (day surgery) for Atherton would be a protracted re-zoning and subdivision process.
“So the decision was taken – my recollection in consultation with council although not through a public forum such as this (council meeting) – to progress that re-zoning and subdivision to give council the best possible chance of securing that (facility) should funding become available through the private sector.”
Mr Rinehart did not reveal who the proponent of the day surgery was due to commercial in-confidence elements.
The cost to council for the re-zoning and subdivision process is $15,763.
