Development of old Royal Adelaide Hospital site will take about 15 years
DEMOLITION on the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site could start two months after patients shift to the other end of North Tce, but the grand vision will take about 15 years to complete. TAKE OUR POLL
DEMOLITION on the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site could start two months after patients shift to the other end of North Tce, but the grand vision will take about 15 years to complete.
Premier Jay Weatherill on Sunday revealed taxpayers were set to spend about $200 million to knock down buildings on the old RAH site and decontaminate the area for new development.
The old RAH demolition and clean-up is expected to take between 12 and 18 months to finish, meaning new construction on the key city block is unlikely until about mid 2018 at the earliest.
Private developers Commercial and General and John Holland have been chosen to lead the project, and will now develop a detailed masterplan as well as seek required planning approvals.
In total, about $1 billion of private investment is expected to be unlocked and the State Government expects that activity to sustain 1000 construction jobs each year of the build.
Apartment towers of up to 17 storeys are being considered on the site’s northern end.
Mr Weatherill said one third of the site would be returned to the Botanic Gardens.
A university “innovation hub”, a five-star hotel and about 1000 apartments are planned for the remainder.
He said the first thing people would see was an opening up of the North Tce frontage as “uglier” modern buildings to the east were brought down and the Botanic Gardens were made more visible.
“One of the early wins in this project will be for the community to see open space coming back,” he said.
“The uglier buildings ... will all come down and that will be a place that’s reserved as public open space. You’ll see beautiful views through to the Schomburgk Pavilion.”
Housing and Urban Development Minister Stephen Mullighan said contamination to be removed included asbestos in buildings as well as wastes in the soil from 150 years of heavy use.
He said the Government had undertaken “extensive work” to estimate the $200 million cost, and played down fears taxpayers could be forced to handover more if the final price were higher.
Mr Mullighan said a further “commercial arrangement” would be struck with the developer to determine what cash would be returned to the taxpayer for allowing private uses on the site.
“Suffice to say, this site has got the opportunity to deliver a dividend for taxpayers, and that will be a key focus of the negotiations,” Mr Mullighan said.
“The developer will make a contribution to the Government ... to be able to develop that site into apartments or the innovation precinct.”
Mr Mullighan said private occupation would only occur on lease arrangements of up to 99 years.
Commercial and General chief executive Jamie McClurg said such long-term lease arrangements for private residences were common around the world, but this would be a first for Adelaide.
Mr McClurg said the whole vision would take up to 15 years to complete.
“We’re hopeful it’s going to be shorter than that, but we need to get into the project and get it happening,” he said.
Extensive community consultation has been promised before ground is finally broken.
Botanic Gardens chair Judy Potter said the return of 2ha of additional green space was “fantastic news” and she would “work through” with developers exact plans for use of the returned land.
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the Government’s plan was “a bit of a yawn”.
“This is our major cultural precinct, and we’re getting a housing development,” he said.
“It doesn’t seem like the Government has much imagination for this space whatsoever.”
Mr Marshall said he doubted the project would even be realised, given Labor’s track record on other developments, and that serious questions remained about the ultimate cost to taxpayers.
“There is an opportunity to build on the infrastructure that we’ve already got there,” he said.
“We could have an international health precinct, mixed use with an iconic cultural program.”
Urban Development Institute of Australia chief executive Pat Gerace said he was pleased a
“decision has finally been made”, and a flow of new projects helped boost industry confidence.
“It needs to be attractive not only to those who already love the parklands but also to those who we want to attract to SA in the same kind of way Adelaide Oval does,” Mr Gerace said.
Timeline
2007:Government reveals part of the site would be transferred to the Botanic
Garden as it develops plans to build new RAH in West End.
2009:A Federation Square-style “green plaza” is touted as an open public space.
2010: A 1.7ha carpark is returned to parklands, south of the old RAH.
2013:A design competition was held. The winning entry had student accommodation, plazas and open space, an art gallery, and kept the East Wing building for a new high school.
2014: The Government pledges a new high school for the site in the midst of the election campaign. The plan is later dumped.
2015:The Government calls for expressions of interest to transform the old RAH site.
2016: The preferred proponent and broad vision is chosen.
2017: The old RAH is expected to be vacated.
2018: Demolition and decontamination likely to have been finished, construction starts. First clear signs of change will be North Tce frontage opening up and Botanic Garden more visible.
2030: Construction of hotel, innovation hub, and apartments likely completed.