Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, has welcomed a $110 million upgrade of Port Macquarie Base Hospital, describing it as a watershed event for the Hastings.

"Today's funding commitment from federal and state governments ensures that the doctors, nurses and ancillary staff at the hospital will have the infrastructure and equipment they need to continue delivering first- class health care to our community," Mr Besseling said.

"There has been a tremendous effort to get the federal and state governments to commit real resources to this hospital. Today's announcement is recognition of that effort.

"This is the single greatest investment in the history of the base hospital and is only possible because of the state's $80 million buy-back in 2005.

"It is particularly pleasing to see the cardiac cath lab included in the expanded 4th and 5th Pods which was a direct result of the personal intervention by the NSW Health Minister to include the lab in the submission to the Health and Hospitals Fund.

"It means hundreds of locals will no longer have to travel to Sydney for coronary tests, which will be of tremendous emotional and financial relief to their worried spouses and families," Mr Besseling said.

"The $600,000 state investment to the project definition plan and service procurement plan means that this project is simply awaiting design and construction. This is a very happy day for our community."