The medical centre has been in the planing for the past three and a half years when Harden Shire Council first decided to build a medical centre if funds could be sourced in February 2005 and then physically when the first sod of soil was turned last November.

Now the Kruger Health and Wellness Complex located on East and Albury Street, is already an eye catching architectural building, which is hoped to attract medical practitioners to Harden

The construction works and architectural designs are a credit to AmFm Constructions, with the irrigation, landscaping, drainage and car parking works being undertaken by the Harden Shire Council with the assistance of local contractors.

The complex features a heated specialist hydrotherapy 3.5mx2.5m pool, the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, where the whole body from the foot to shoulder can be rehabilitated.

The pool which is estimated to have cost $180,000 was imported from the United States and can be used all year round with the pool being heated between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius.

To allow easy access the specialist pool is built with an adjustable depth from zero to 1.8 metres and a walking treadmill on the bottom for the best therapeutic results.

Three cameras have been installed to monitor movements which are then recorded onto DVD to determine rehabilitation progress of a patient.

According to Harden Shire Mayor Philip Hockney, the centre is hoped to be operational by the end of August.

“Plans are still being finalised into the attraction of medical professions and negotiate operators of the complex, a lot of interest has been shown,” Mr Hockney said.

An official opening of the Kruger Health and Wellness Complex will be held on Friday August 8, Mr Hockney is encouraging all local residents to attend the opening and take a look around at the facilities that will be available.

“The purpose of the opening is to show invited medical professions and local residents’ services that the Kruger Health and Wellness Complex have to offer, where works are up to and the advantages of the centre.”

“The Complex is a credit to Harden,” Mr Hockney added.

The complex will be opened by Mayor Philip Hockney and Chairman of the Kruger Trust Keith Sewell and will be open for inspection to the public from 10.30am with the official opening being conducted at 11am.

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