Following on from a $30 million commitment from the NSW government in June to upgrade the emergency department, the additional $45 million would allow work on the intensive care unit, additional surgical theatres, and more beds.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement when visiting the hospital yesterday.

“We don’t want people to have to travel longer distances for things that can be dealt with in Albury,” she said.

“Procedures that currently cannot happen here, will be able to in the future.”

The funding will also be used to continue planning to move maternity services from Wodonga to Albury, but the premier would not confirm it will happen just yet.

“I want to leave the door open to address future master plan needs,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Albury MP Greg Aplin said there would be consultation with the Victorian government before shifting the maternity unit next to other specialist services in Albury.

Albury Wodonga Health chief executive Leigh McJames said the hospital would “try our absolute best” to ensure the total of $75 million also included a maternity department, but could not officially make that promise.

“For all the reasons of delivering the best-possible services to this community, we will be desperately trying to achieve as much as we can – and that includes the transfer of maternity,” he said.

“You always need more so I’m not going to say that’s enough.

“The premier said she’s left the door open (for more funding) so I don’t want to close it.”

Mr McJames said the work as the hospital would start as soon as possible.

The new announcement of $45 million would be delivered in the next term of government, making it dependent on to Coalition being re-elected.

“I can talk about what other parties would do, that’s a matter for them,” Ms Berejiklian said. “I’m pleased Albury is getting its fair share and we want to deliver.”

She said she did not want to “get political” about asking Victoria for its share of funding, but was happy to have open discussions.