I asked why an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had not been done for this major development. Their answer was that they would do one in due course (even though that wasn't my question - I wanted to know why they skipped that before deciding on the BG).

We were told that the Government took the Arboretum off the table due to access difficulties in that area and that they were given a 500 million dollar limit by the Government. This left the Botanical Gardens as the only option since rebuilding on the existing site would cost too much.

This response has made me wonder why the Government gave a 500 million limit on this project and how come the BHB team came up with a site in the BG to match this limit exactly? Could they have made it any cheaper? What if the Government gave them a 400 million dollar cap? Would that have been able to save the extra million needed to rebuild on the existing site? Why do we need a hospital that costs that much?

Hmmm - perhaps I don't understand the costs after all!!

Several people raised the issue of reverting the existing site back to green space. The BHB had no answer regarding how they could assure us that this would happen. They said a Government mandate might be possible.

Apparently dust will affect the Botanical Gardens even if they don't build on it. Still though I'd rather have a dusty Botanical Gardens for a while than no gardens at all!

Several people asked "Why was the Botanical Gardens ever an option at all?". The BHB had no answer and reminded the public that their job is not to defend the decision but to explain the process in which the decision was made.

I asked where the Government was and when would they answer these questions. The BHB had no answer.

Several people who worked at the hospital spoke out against the decision during all 3 meetings.

part 2 later... it's 2:30am and I may be THE MOST FANTASTIC BLOGGER THAT EVER LIVED... but even I need sleep! :-)

Friday's meeting was not as full as Thursday's meeting but the turnout was still pretty impressive

Members of the BHB and the design companies fielded questions and listened to what the public had to say - it was good to see that they were taking notes too!

At the end of the meeting several members of the public asked further questions directly to members of the panel. These more intimate discussions went on for at least 20 minutes after the meeting had finished

Members of the opposition also spoke with the public but John Barrit said he was just there to do the right thing and wanted to avoid politicising the debate