Edward River Council has taken the next step in securing the future operation of the Deniliquin Medical Centre, authorising Chief Executive Officer Jack Bond to begin negotiations following the completion of an independently assessed Expressions of Interest (EOI) process.
The EOI process attracted four strong submissions from organisations interested in operating the Medical Centre, with Council now progressing to negotiations and due diligence with the preferred respondent identified through the evaluation process.
Mayor Ashley Hall said the outcome was a positive milestone and demonstrated the process was progressing as planned.
"We're pleased to have reached this stage and are looking forward to moving into negotiations with a preferred operator," Cr Hall said.
"There is still work to do, but we're very optimistic about the future of the Medical Centre and look forward to sharing more with our community as soon as we can."
The evaluation was undertaken by independent healthcare and procurement professionals with extensive experience in rural and regional healthcare service delivery.
Chief Executive Officer Jack Bond said the strong response to the EOI process was encouraging.
"Receiving four quality submissions is a great result and reflects the value of this facility and the opportunities it presents," Mr Bond said.
"Our focus is now on completing negotiations and due diligence to ensure any future arrangement supports long-term healthcare outcomes for our community."
Council acknowledges the significant community interest in the future operation of the Medical Centre but emphasises that it is unable to disclose the identity of the preferred respondent at this stage. Negotiations and due diligence are continuing and remain subject to commercial, legal, privacy and governance obligations.
Information regarding the future operator will be released once negotiations have been completed and any necessary agreements have been finalised.
The Deniliquin Medical Centre EOI process forms part of Council's broader commitment to improving healthcare access across the Edward River region and aligns with the priorities identified in Council's Advocacy Plan 2026-2029, including attracting and retaining doctors and allied health professionals, strengthening healthcare workforce sustainability and improving access to essential healthcare services.
