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MidCoast Council has responded to comments from Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie that council had "recommended refusal" of a development of a proposed cancer care centre to be situated in Cornwall Street in Taree. Dr Gillespie had announced an election promise of $4.5 million from the former federal government prior to the 2019 election, "to support the delivery of the new service - Cancer Care Manning Great Lakes". However, the approval of the project is not council's to make. "Given the nature of the development and the investment level, the approval body for the development is not council, rather it is the Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel, a function of the NSW Department of Planning," a media statement from council said. MidCoast Council confirms it has been actively working with the developers throughout the development assessment process to see the project brought to fruition. "We do recognise the importance of the development to cancer patients in the MidCoast, however councils have a responsibility to implement planning requirements vested in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and as such we have had to work through a process with the applicant," MidCoast Council director of liveable communities, Paul de Szell said. "This type of medical facility will be hugely beneficial to our region and that's why we have been working very closely with everyone. "Throughout November staff have met with the developer on several occasions to work through planning issues in order to get to an outcome that can be recommended to the Joint Regional Planning Panel." It is expected that revised plans will go to the Joint Regional Planning Panel early in 2024. CEO of Cancer Care Associates Jeff Hunter, the applicants for the development, echoed Mr De Szell's sentiments and thanked council for their work so far. "The Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel raised concern about parking provisions in the public meeting held on 11 October 2023," he explained. "We have subsequently addressed these concerns, and we thank the MidCoast Council planning team for their input and guidance. "We look forward to our anticipated opening in late 2024 and to being able to provide the Manning Great Lakes community with a world-class-service, utilising state-of-the-art equipment." Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content.