Demolition starts on historic Gympie Hospital nurses quarters

The destruction of the old Gympie Hospital nurses quarters is underway, and while Qld Health remains tight lipped on the future of the site, its immediate future will be as a car park.

The demolition of the old nurses quarters at Gympie Hospital is starting, but questions linger about what the long terms plans will be.

Gympie’s state LNP MP says the region’s residents “are being given the run-around” as questions linger over plans for Gympie Hospital’s future and demolition of its historic nurses quarters begins.

State member Tony Perrett’s latest salvos come following a response Friday to a Question on Notice from Health Minister Shannon Fentiman about the fate and future of the block in Gympie’s Alfred St.

The building was on Monday cordoned by fencing and signs saying demolition was underway.

Mr Perrett asked in his question if this was “in preparation for the expansion and upgrade of the hospital at the existing site”.

Ms Fentiman said the quarters were identified in the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Strategic Asset Management Plan “as being in poor condition and financially unsustainable”.

“SCHHS have undertaken significant assessments of the building and considered any possible future use,” she said.

The demolition of the old nurses quarters at Gympie Hospital is starting, but questions linger about what the long terms plans will be with MP Tony Perrett (inset left) saying a recent response to his questions by Health Minister Shannon Fentiman (right) still did not give the public clarity.

“Due to the age of the building, I am advised that it cannot be safely repurposed.”

Asbestos has reportedly been found inside the building.

Once cleared, the land “will form part of a broader site plan” for the hospital, to be determined through the department’s master planning activities for the facility.

A Sunshine Coast Health and Hospital Service spokeswoman said on Monday the land occupied by the quarters would be used as a “temporary car park in the short term”.

“Sunshine Coast Health has undertaken significant assessments of the former nurses’ quarters building and considered any possible future use,” the spokeswoman said.

“Safety remains our number one priority and given results from structural reports and condition assessments that highlight fire and safety concerns, the building has not been deemed fit for purpose.”

“A broader site plan under the Master Plan for Gympie Hospital is due for completion in the last quarter of 2024.

A Sunshine Coast Health And Hospital spokeswoman said the quarters would make way for a temporary carpark “in the short term”.

“We believe that Gympie deserves fit-for-purpose, contemporary health infrastructure and it’s time for a new chapter at Gympie Hospital for our staff and community.”

The department built a new $8 million, 24-bed accommodation building for hospital staff in 2023.

Mr Perrett said questions still remained as to the long-term use of the block, in light of the state earmarking $2.3 million in the 2023-24 budget for a business case, with the funding spread across two years.

“The Health Minister will not let the public know if the demolition of the old nurses quarters is in preparation for the expansion and upgrade of the hospital at the existing site,” Mr Perrett said.

“When will the Gympie community be told what is going on at the hospital?

“A historic landmark is to be demolished; people naturally want to know what is going on.

“It shouldn’t be that hard to tell us what is going to happen.”

He said it was now five years since the state’s Master Clinical Services Plan revealed the hospital could not provide the services needed for the region’s growing population.

“It said the hospital is constrained on its site at the top of a hill, it’s too old, fragmented, and services spread across multiple aged buildings,” Mr Perrett said.

“It cannot be patched.

“Gympie is experiencing high growth, and the problems are not going away, they are increasing.”