RSL pulls out of redevelopment of Repat Hospital
THE sale of the Repatriation General Hospital must be stopped because the RSL’s retirement-home arm has pulled out of the multi-million dollar redevelopment deal, critics say.
- RSL to lead $125m transformation of Repat
- How The Advertiser broke the news of the RSL plan last year
THE sale of the Repatriation General Hospital must be stopped because the RSL’s retirement-home arm has pulled out of the multi-million dollar redevelopment deal, critics say.
Health Minister Jack Snelling on Tuesday revealed NSW-based RSL LifeCare notified the State Government on Monday that the consortium it planned to lead, would be unable to deliver the project.
Instead, a consortium led by not-for-profit ACH Group would now deliver a health, education, ageing and veterans’ precinct at the site and have committed to working closely with RSL SA.
Mr Snelling, who dodged questions on problems with the RSL LifeCare bid in Parliament last week, said the Government had anticipated the deal could fall through.
“As soon as it became clear that RSL LifeCare consortium may fail to finalise the contract, we engaged the ACH Group-led consortium, which had narrowly missed out in the original process,” he said.
Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade questioned the Government’s decision to “resuscitate” an old bid from last year’s expression of interest process.
“These bids weren’t even allowed to ask about partnerships with SA Health services that are currently on the site,” he said.
“The Government should stop and look at refreshing the existing services, possibly with private partnerships.”
Mr Wade said the Government must also reconsider moving Ward 17 for veterans experiencing mental health issues to Glenside.
Emeritus Specialist RGH Daw Park and Mitcham RAAF Association president Robert Black said the failure of the first deal “screamed for a halt” to the closure of any existing service in the site and, in particular, mental health services.
Mr Snelling said handover of the site was still expected to occur in late 2017 as previously announced.
“It beggars belief that the Liberals want to halt a project with a reputable SA-based organisation like ACH Group, that has the support of the RSL SA and will provide modern care for our veterans,” he said.
Veterans’ services would be an important part of the “Open Daws” development which would result in $200 million invested into the Repat site.
The consortium, also including Adelaide Community Healthcare Alliance, Healthscope, Anglicare, Flinders University and RDNS, committed to collaborate with the veterans’ community throughout the planning and development of the site and will upgrade the chapel, remembrance garden and SPF hall.
ACH Group chairman Geoff Holdich said the SA organisation was “delighted” to deliver a unique health, education and ageing precinct.
“Community consultation followed by further design work prior to the consortium taking ownership of the site will commence immediately, and include a variety of residential accommodation styles, health, educational, retail and research facilities,” he said.
RSL state president Brigadier Tim Hanna said the organisation was looking forward to working with the ACH Group-led consortium, to ensure the rich history of the Repat site continues.
Timeline
■JUNE 19, 2014: Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis delivers the state Budget, flagging that it may be necessary to close a hospital to deal with federal funding cuts.
■OCTOBER, 2014: State Government releases a discussion paper on Transforming Health proposals that attracts more than 5000 submissions.
■MARCH 17, 2015: Final Delivering Transforming Health document is released, confirming plans to close the Repat.
■SEPTEMBER 13, 2015: Save the Repat protesters and veterans end their 161-day protest on the steps of Parliament House.
■DECEMBER 24, 2015: Expressions-of-interest process to determine the future use of the Repat site closes. The Advertiser reveals the RSL is among the bidders.
■MAY 15, 2016: The State Government approves the RSL submission to invest $125 million to redevelop the Repat site.
■OCTOBER 25: The RSL pulls out of redevelopment, replaced by ACH Group-led group