The Minns Labor Government is today announcing that healthcare workers in Shoalhaven will soon benefit from new key worker accommodation, with nine townhouses in Bomaderry now purchased and final touches underway to welcome the first residents in the coming weeks.
Bomaderry is the first of more than 20 projects to be completed in rural, regional and remote NSW, under the Minns Labor Government's $200.1 million Key Health Worker Accommodation Program, which will help attract and retain healthcare staff in the regions.
The new modern two storey townhouses include four three-bedroom, two-bathroom units and five two-bedroom, two-bathroom dwellings.
Each townhouse is fully furnished and features a light-filled living and dining area, modern kitchen, ensuites and a private courtyard.
The accommodation includes onsite parking, low maintenance grounds and is conveniently located next to Bomaderry CBD, only minutes from the train station.
The connection of services, furnishing, fixtures and equipment has been completed and installed to ensure the new units will be fit-for-purpose and comfortable for healthcare workers.
This $200.1 million investment by the NSW Government in key health worker accommodation across rural and regional areas was made as part of the 2024-25 NSW Budget.
This is a Minns Labor Government initiative, from start to finish as part of our commitment to rebuild regional health services.
By contrast, the former Liberal National Government capped wages for health workers, teachers firefighters and police for 12 years, tried to privatise Shellharbour Hospital, and even left 1,112 nurses and midwives funded only temporarily - including 61 jobs on the South Coast. Labor had to step in and save them.
This investment in key health worker accommodation builds on the Minns Labor Government's efforts to improve access to care in regional communities like the South Coast, including:
- Lifting the Liberals' wages cap and giving all health workers the largest pay rise in over a decade, resulting in more health workers in our hospitals;
- Upgrading Shoalhaven Hospital and building a new Shellharbour Hospital complete with a helipad;
- Delivering safe staffing levels at Shoalhaven and Shellharbour Hospitals
- $83 million to boost maternity care in the bush;
- doubling rural health incentives and delivering study subsidies for regional health workers;
- Providing payroll tax relief to GPs that bulk bill making it easier to see a GP and reducing the strain on our emergency departments;
- boosting doctors in our regional GP surgeries as well as hospitals through the single employer model; and
- delivering an extra 500 regional paramedics.
Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said:
"While we're upgrading Shoalhaven Hospital and building a new Shellharbour Hospital, we know that it's health workers that are the backbone of our regional and rural communities, which is why we're heavily investing in dedicated accommodation right here in Bomaderry.
"This project is especially important in the Shoalhaven, where housing is hard to find and increasingly expensive - making it even more difficult to retain the essential workers our communities depend on.
"To keep this momentum going, Kiama needs Katelin McInerney - a strong local voice inside the NSW Government who will fight for this community and make sure projects like this keep getting delivered."
Minister for Health, Ryan Park said:
"Accessible and affordable housing is critical to attracting and retaining essential healthcare workers, including right here in Bomaderry.
"Today, we're announcing new accommodation will be available for health staff in the Shoalhaven with the acquisition of 9 new townhouses in Bomaderry.
"This is the first of more than 20 key health worker accommodation projects being rolled out across regional, rural and remote NSW under a $200.1 million investment from the NSW Government.
"More staff, more hospitals, more investment, lower wait times - we've got a way to go, but we're making good progress."
Labor candidate for Kiama, Katelin McInerney said:
"This is just another example of the Minns Labor Government delivering the essential services our community needs - from brand new and upgraded hospitals to accommodation for the incredible health workers in them.
"It's projects like this that a strong local voice in the Minns Labor Government will deliver for our community, so that we have access to world class health care.
"Bomaderry's key health worker accommodation townhouses look fantastic, are well designed and equipped, which will make it easier for healthcare staff to live comfortably and enhance delivery of care in the Shoalhaven."
