UPGRADES at the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital are "on target".
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Dr Richard Harrison, a surgeon at Wagga, said services across the board were "hopelessly inadequate" before the promised changes.
A new 50-bed mental health unit is now up and running, while cranes hover over the stage two construction of an acute services building.
Dr Harrison said the Wagga sector serviced upwards of 250,000 people, which was testament to the necessity of local services.
The results of the State and federal government's $282 million investment will come to fruition in 2015.
"It's infrastructure like this that is an attraction for doctors to come to rural and regional areas, but it hasn't come easy - it's been hard work," he said.
"But we made Wagga a priority.
"Our services are metro in their skill and breadth."
Dr Harrison said the number of specialists had doubled since the mid '90s, with more than 100 now practising in the area.
"The State government has committed another $400,000 for the planning of phase three," Dr Harrison said.
"We have no complaints, everything's been on time."