Dr Jessica Martyn unveils $10m accommodation plan to keep professionals in Port Augusta
A South Australian doctor has a more than $10m plan which she says will revolutionise her town. See the plans.
Upper Spencer Gulf
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A Spencer Gulf doctor has lodged a more than $10m accommodation plan to help young professionals stay in her town.
Dr Jessica Martyn, 34, was sick of seeing her colleagues at Port Augusta Hospital leave so she has lodged the first stage of a three step plan to keep young professionals in the town.
The first stage of the 90 bed development will include 40 college-dorm style rooms with single beds, individual sinks, cupboard space and built-in desk.
Dr Martyn, the head doctor in the Port Augusta Hospital emergency department, said young professionals “come up (to Port Augusta) for their intern or probation year for 12 months” and they end up in sub-par accommodation.
“They leave after their 12 months so we have this constantly rotating influx of junior police officers and junior paramedics,” she said.
Dr Martyn said the new development will be “effectively a motel but it’s only for lease to organisations” such as SA Ambulance, SA Police and the Education Department.
“We’re literally having teachers that are getting to the final round of interviews and then they can’t find them accommodation so they never start working at our primary schools or in our high schools,” she said.
The second stage will be “typical motel rooms” for more senior professionals with the final step “30 or 40 studio apartments” with one bedroom, ensuite and living area with full kitchen facilities.
The development was designed by Epic Projects with builder Constructwell on board.
“It will encourage people to stay after their initial tenure is up,” Dr Martyn said.
“It’s all pretty exciting and a little bit hectic and I can’t believe it’s only taken just over 12 months to get to this stage.”
Dr Martyn is in the process of securing funding for stage two and three of the project, but she said she can fund the first part herself.
“It would completely change the town dynamic,” Dr Martyn said.
She said if the plans are approved, the first stage of construction is set to start in August with the whole project to be completed “within 12 months”.
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