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Tony Kokshoorn - Source: ONE News -
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The mayor of Greymouth wants to impose a regional fuel tax to help pay for a new hospital on the West Coast.
Tony Kokshoorn says government funding may be years away and he wants the government to let him to raise the cash locally through a five cent per litre fuel tax.
Kokshoorn says the Grey hospital building in Greymouth, which is over 40 years old, is inefficient, leaking and an earthquake risk.
His vision is of a modern hospital that can perform acute and elective surgeries and also handle maternity.
The mayor's suggestion would raise around $5.5 million each year from motorists using West Coast roads, but Health Minister Tony Ryall says a fuel tax is not possible as John Key's government has removed the ability for regional fuel taxes.
Ryall agrees a new hospital is needed for the area but that the mayor's plans are too expensive and will not receive government funding.
"We know we have a big job to do there (the West Coast)...It's in the mix," says Ryall.
The fuel tax idea has had a mixed response from the locals who would pay most of it, but Kokshoorn says he is not giving up on the idea yet.
