At its December meeting, council unanimously agreed to offer $350 reduced rent, totalling $18,200 per annum, on a furnished residence for a five-year period. The doctor will reside in Urana and travel daily to Oaklands.
Council’s resolution includes the financial proposal for public exhibition in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993.
Oaklands’ first medical centre opened officially on Friday, September 27 and is dedicated to providing comprehensive health services to the community of Oaklands and surrounds.
Ms Shannon advised the actual opening or facility’s use has been delayed due to the unavailability of attracting a doctor. But that has now changed.
Local GP, Dr Veerendra Yaramati, (Dr Giri) and his dedicated staff will be operating the centre under lease from Federation Council.
Dr Giri and his team have operated the Urana Medical Centre very successfully for over 12 years and have been looking forward to expanding their great services to the Oaklands Medical Centre.
Federation Council General Manager, Adrian Butler officiated at the opening, alongside Dr Giri and was attended by over 50 people.
“To get to where we are today is testament to the patience, resilience and determination of Dr Giri,” Mr Butler said at the opening.
“Dr Giri is insisting the new medical centre is a council and community project, and that is correct to a point for the physical building, but as we know, a medical centre without a doctor and fabulous staff, is nothing but a building.
“To be standing here with a fully accredited medical centre, ready for business, is indeed a proud day for us all.”
At council’s December meeting Cr Derek Schoen, who attended the opening, said it was really good to see the facility there. He said it was much better to spend some money on reduced rental for a doctor than to spend money on the (recent) poll at council election time about council area representation.
“This facility’s something to be really proud of,” Cr Schoen said.
“It’s not just for Urana and Oaklands’ residents. Anyone can register.”
The facility, in Hunter Street, involved extensively upgrading a residence to convert it to an accredited medical centre, designed by Regional Design Service Corowa, with the construction work delivered by Kennedy Builders Mulwala, and the project managed by Federation Council.
Cr Andrew Kennedy managed the upgrade and said it was great to see the facility was going to be used.
“Hospitals need and deserve all the support councils can give,” Cr Kennedy said.
Oaklands farmer, Cr Richard Nixon thanked fellow councillors for their comments.
“It’s great news and we should do everything possible to make it easier for a doctor to be at Oaklands,” he added.
Dr Giri has been the sole GP based at the Urana Medical Centre for over 12 years, serving a broad reach of patients from as far afield as Naranderra, Lockhart, Rand, Balldale, Jerilderie, Corowa and many other places in between and further afield.
“Dr Girri is an amazing person, second to none,” Urana-based and Federation Council Mayor at the centre’s opening Pat Bourke, said at council’s December 2024 meeting. “He’s got patients coming from everywhere. He’s special and worked very hard to get a second doctor, for Oaklands.”
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