Daw Park Repatriation General Hospital: Masterplan reportedly shows homes, shops and hotel

A RESIDENTIAL development, shops and potentially a hotel reportedly are among the long-awaited plans for the future of the Repatriation General Hospital site, despite strong community backlash against the idea.

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A RESIDENTIAL development, shops and potentially a hotel reportedly are among the long-awaited plans for the future of the Repatriation General Hospital site, despite strong community backlash against the idea.

ABC Radio Adelaide this morning revealed details of what it claimed was the latest $200 million redevelopment plan. The plan is believed to have been sitting with the Labor Government since before the election, with some people asking why the masterplan was not revealed before March 17.

It comes after the Labor Government signed a contract to sell the site to Adelaide-based ACH Group. In mid-February, the then Health Minister Peter Malinauskas confirmed the State Government was assessing changes to the plans.

Former Veterans Affairs Minister Martin Hamilton Smith this morning admitted he believed the Labor Government kept the plans under wraps “because the government didn’t like it (the plans) at all”.

“It doesn’t surprise me they would,” he said.

Former nurse manager at the Repat, Christine Doerr, said the “mixed use” plans for the site was “no surprise”.

“When it was rezoned as a mixed use site, this was always going to be on the cards,” she told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“What’s going to be interesting now ... the Liberals within their first 100 days promised to reopen the Repat for certain things.

“There is a pressing need for some areas to reopen to address some of the fallout from Transforming Health such as blown out emergency surgery waiting list times.

“We must use it (the site) for public health.”

Exterior of the Repat Hospital in Daw Park.

Transforming Health critic Professor Warren Jones said the Labor Government had “misused policy and power” in keeping the plans secret before the election.

Incoming Health Minister Stephen Wade has not yet seen the plans, however the newly elected Liberal Government has pledged to reopen surgical theatres at the site and flagged compulsory acquisition of key assets if necessary.

New Premier Steven Marshall has not put a figure on the cost of reopening the theatres, nor any potential compulsory acquisition of land or existing buildings.

The ACH Group has until April 30 to negotiate their master plan with the Liberal Government.

The Liberals long fought against the closure of the Repat as part of Labor’s controversial Transforming Health reforms.

Former premier Mike Rann’s pledged the Repat would “never, ever be closed by a Labor Government”.

The Advertiser has contacted the ACH Group for comment.