New $240 million health hub proposed for near Lyell McEwin hospital

MORE than 1600 new jobs are on the cards at a $240 million health precinct expected to revamp health care services in Adelaide’s northern suburbs

Artist impression of a proposed restorative health precinct next to Lyell McEwin hospital in Elizabeth Vale.

MORE than 1600 new jobs are on the cards at a $240 million health precinct expected to revamp health care services in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

South Australia’s not-for-profit ACH Group is behind a plan to convert a 22,500sqm site adjacent the flagship Lyell McEwin hospital in Elizabeth Vale into a major development boasting myriad health services, education, training and social housing.

ACH chairman Geoff Holdich said the site master plan will be submitted to the City of Playford in January next year with construction on the restorative health and wellbeing project, due to begin in the second half of 2017, taking five years to complete.

“This project will definitely take place, it’s exciting and we are expecting a positive response,” Mr Holdich said.

The project will be twice the size of ACH’s recent ViTA South development in Daw Park he said with care outcomes to be based around first rate health services and delivery.

The new precinct will serve an area with the lowest health outcomes and highest premature mortality rates in Adelaide Mr Holdich said with the closure of General Motors in 2017 and commensurate job losses expected to exasperate the current poor health outcomes.

Five hundred jobs will be created during the construction phase and a further 1000 jobs created indirectly over the lifespan of the development. Once operational, more than 120 full time equivalent roles will need to be filled.

City of Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty welcomed the proposed development.

“Playford has one of the fastest growing populations in the country so we must expand and enhance our health services,” he said. “The facility will offer unmatched health and community benefits to a range of groups who have previously operated in isolation.”

A two week registration of interest process opens today for parties keen to be a part of the project said Justin Hazell, transactions director at Colliers International (SA) who is leading the registration process.

Opportunities will include consulting and allied health clinic functions, training providers and accommodation operators. The site is intended to become a magnet for new ideas and innovation giving entrepreneurs access to the newest technology to offer quality health care to the community.

On-site service providers will present an opportunity for school-to-work pathways, particularly through TAFE and for local unemployed to gain skills and insight into potential new careers in health and aged care.

Local aboriginal, indigenous, Muslim and Cambodian community groups have been consulted over the Woods Bagot designed plan Mr Holdich said.

Under the government’s Transforming Health overhaul, multiple services will be shifted from the QEH and RAH to the Lyell McEwin. Oncology, cardiology and stroke are among services scheduled to move by March 2017.