SA’s Repatriation General Hospital masterplan remains under wraps despite promises

THE future of the Repatriation General Hospital is in limbo after the State Government failed to sign off on the developer’s masterplan for the site before going into caretaker mode.

Repatriation General Hospital’s former sign, before it was closed by the State Government.

• Steven Marshall pledges to surgical theatres at Repat Hospital site
• Last patients leave the Repat
• Site sold to Adelaide’s not-for-profit ACH Group

THE future of the Repatriation General Hospital is in limbo after the State Government failed to sign off on the developer’s masterplan for the site before going into caretaker mode.

Failure to approve the ACH Group’s plan and finalise the proposed $200 million redevelopment before the election leaves the door open for the Liberals’ plan to reopen five operating theatres for colonoscopies, urology and orthopaedics should they win power.

Health Minister Peter Malinauskas on Friday confirmed the State Government had been assessing changes to the masterplan but it would not be signed off on before writs for the election were issued on Saturday.

“It’s unfortunate that during caretaker mode obviously that wouldn’t be able to take place, I was hoping and had the ambition for the masterplan to be able to be put out for public consultation prior to caretaker mode,” he said on ABC radio.

“That hasn’t occurred but of course whoever is in Government after the election – and naturally I hope that’s a Labor Government – I look forward to being able to conclude this process.”

ACH Group delivered the masterplan for approval in November, following a warning from chief executive Ray Creen to a parliamentary committee that the proposal hinged on rezoning plans being approved so ACH could onsell land to other “operators or developers”.

The ACH Group, which bought the site for an undisclosed sum, has a seven-year plan to turn it into a village with various levels of aged care accommodation, student and affordable housing, palliative care, healthcare centres, education and research hubs, and retail outlets.

Planning Minister John Rau approved a development plan amendment for the precinct and surrounding areas on December 21 which was gazetted on January 23, with no fanfare.

However, such a zoning change has to be approved by Parliament’s Environment, Resources and Development Committee — which will not meet until after the election and could rescind the decision depending on who wins power.

Mr Malinauskas confirmed that if the masterplan was not signed off on by whoever forms government after the election, the deal would fall through.

The Liberal Party has committed to reopening operating theatres at the Repat for colonoscopies and urology and orthopaedic procedures, to ease pressure on elective surgery waiting lists should it win the election.

SA Best is proposing a community health centre at the site.