Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council has welcomed the decision to retain the pathology laboratory at Cootamundra Hospital, describing it as a significant and positive outcome for the Cootamundra community and the broader region.
Mayor of the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Cr Abb McAlister expressed Council’s gratitude to all those who played a role in advocating for the retention of this vital service.
“This is a great outcome for the Cootamundra community. On behalf of Council, I want to thank everyone who supported the campaign, particularly local member Steph Cooke MP for initiating and championing the petition, and the many councils and communities across the Cootamundra electorate who stood with us,”said Mayor McAlister.
Cr Abb McAlister, Cr Ros Wight, and Interim General Manager Roger Bailey met with the head of NSW Pathology, Vanessa Janissen, along with staff from the Cootamundra Hospital. During the meeting, it was outlined that improvements will be made to the hospital building to support the continued delivery of pathology services locally. This includes the installation of new equipment and necessary infrastructure upgrades.
It was confirmed that there will be greater cooperation between pathology services in Cootamundra, Wagga Wagga, and Young, strengthening the network and ensuring reliable service delivery across the region.
The petition to retain the pathology lab attracted widespread support and was distributed to neighbouring councils in the Cootamundra electorate, whose communities also backed the effort. The collective voice of the region has played a crucial role in this outcome.
Mayor McAlister emphasised the importance of community support for the service going forward.
“Our community needs to continue using and supporting the pathology service to ensure its long-term sustainability,” he said.
“We now look forward to seeing the improvements delivered and ensuring the local community continues to receive quality healthcare services close to home.”
“We’ve been heard. Now we must work together to make sure the lab is properly resourced and ready for the future,” Councillor McAlister added.
Council extends its sincere thanks to all community members, partner councils, and supporters who helped secure this outcome.
Picture and caption:
Cr Abb McAlister, Rebecca Perry (Cootamundra Pathology Unit), Vanessa Janissen (Chief Executive NSW Pathology, Cr Ros Wight.
