Deputy mayor Rob Hooke said the number-one item had been “unanimous” in informal talks ahead of Wednesday’s council meeting.

Councillor Murray O’Keefe said the aging facility was “a handbrake on growth” and a new one “pivotal” to the future of the shire.

Mayor Jamie Chaffey, in his mayoral minute for the meeting, lists the top six items he’d like to push for ahead of the federal election, yet to be called, and the state election in March 2019.

They are: a new hospital; a TAFE redevelopment and courses to meet local skills shortages; a processing precinct; more police officers and accommodation; new phone towers to fix mobile blackspots; and upgrades to “pinch-point” roads.

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“Councillors have discussed informally the priorities it wishes to take forward for advocacy with state and federal government members, ministers and members of the opposition … I commend these priorities for strong advocacy by council,” Cr Chaffey said in his mayoral minute.

Cr O’Keefe said that, apart from the effect on patients, “if we don’t have access to top-class medical facilities, people aren’t going to choose to live in Gunnedah”.

“We are fighting to attract and retain residents to our shire; to keep the great people and culture we have, bring in and attract new residents, and drive the growth we’re capable of,” he said.

“That hospital is the missing piece of critical infrastructure.”

Councillor Gae Swain said settling on the hospital as the top item “wasn’t that difficult … in the sense of looking at what’s practical and what’s sensible and what’s achievable”.

“You just have to come and have a look at some of the back part of the hospital to understand just how ancient some of those rooms and corridors are.”

The state government has committed to a $750,000 upgrade to the birthing suite and general ward, but Cr O’Keefe said an upgrade and a new hospital were not “mutually exclusive”.

“It’s good to get an upgrade, and keep extending the life and increase the capacity of the facility we have now – but that does not mean for one second we should let up or stop advocating for a new and improved hospital to push our shire into the future,” he said.