Since 2013, the local group has been passionate about seeing the health needs of Muswellbrook and its surrounds met.

Over this time, MACHINE has experienced a few steps forward, including the allocation of money for further upgrades to the hospital.

But, they are still not satisfied with the speed at which the town is receiving the progress.

“The grant that was [awarded] in 2015 has only resulted in about $2 million of expenditures since then – on planning,” MACHINE chairman Granville Taylor said.

“And that’s still the status now.

“The second stage was supposed to finish in 2019.

“In the last budget papers, it’s now been pushed back to 2020, although we have been assured the issue will be finished next year.

“So, what we thought was a job done, we’re still in fact actively pushing for government to move faster.”

Member Jane Dyson said the aged care facility had been a requirement in town for a long time.

“It’s beautiful and it’s something that this community needs and we now have that,” she said.

“Of course, now our energies have to concentrate more on the hospital and working hard on that.

Fellow member Jenny Hinschen said the group was only half-way through getting the job done.

“We represented the community and we love the new aged care facility,” she said.

“However, we’re going to continue just reminding the government that Muswellbrook community, Muswellbrook’s wider community, deserve to have the health facilities that a lot of other places in the state have.

“Especially with the amount of money that we send down to the government each year.”

Mr Taylor said there had not been any indication why the process continued to lag.

And, he believes a potential increase in local workforce provides additional cause to develop the facility sooner.

“There’s even more reason today to speed up the work, rather than slow it down,” he said.

Find Muswellbrook Aged Care and Hospital in a New Environment on Facebook to keep updated with their progress.