North Coast hospitals are set to benefit from a $400 million statewide maintenance blitz announced by the Minns Government as part of the 2026-27 NSW Budget — but the long-delayed redevelopment of Manning Base Hospital in Taree was noticeably absent from the list.
The Health Asset and Equipment Renewal program will fund the replacement and upgrade of medical equipment and critical clinical systems, along with essential facility works including roof and facade repairs, fire safety upgrades, air conditioning overhaul and lift replacements. Hospitals at Grafton, Port Macquarie and Tweed are among those across the North Coast included in the government’s broader health infrastructure program.
“This $400 million maintenance blitz is a significant and much needed investment, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring the latest health equipment and infrastructure is accessible to everyone, no matter where they live,” said Minister for Health Ryan Park.
Premier Chris Minns said the funding was unglamorous but essential.
“Our doctors, nurses and health workers do an incredible job every day. They deserve modern facilities and equipment that help them provide the best possible care for patients.”
“This isn’t always the sort of work that grabs headlines, but it’s the work that keeps hospitals running,” Minns said.
The government said the new program built on more than $900 million invested in 2025-26 to continue and complete health infrastructure projects across regional NSW, with Lower Mid North Coast among the sites listed.
Manning Base Hospital, however, remains a sore point for the region. The Opposition has previously accused the government of dragging its feet on the redevelopment, with Member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson describing a meeting with the Health Minister’s office as a “complete waste of time” and warning that cardiac services risked being left out of the project scope, while Shadow Minister for Health Sarah Mitchell has called on the government to stop “playing politics with regional healthcare.”
The Hunter New England Local Health District says the Manning redevelopment — Stage 2 of the $180 million Lower Mid North Coast Health Service Project — is progressing, with site investigations underway and the main works contract expected to be awarded in the coming months.
The government said the program also included broader statewide equipment upgrades, with the Medical Equipment End-of-Life Replacement Program targeting ageing MRI and CT scanners to ensure continued safe and timely care across NSW hospitals.
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