Inside Riverside Hospital’s new development plans near Mackay Base Hospital
Two years after rejection, developers have pushed for the construction of a new private facility near the Mackay Base Hospital, this time adding housing and even more parking. Will it be enough?
Mackay
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The third proposal in 14 years to build a new private hospital across the street from the Mackay Base Hospital has been lodged, with developers hoping their changes are enough to satisfy council.
Bridge Property Group in 2010 first proposed to build a new private hospital, cafe and 59 units at 476 Bridge Rd, received approval to start construction in December 2010 and received an extension until 2018 before the idea was scrapped.
In 2022, the Holistic Property Group, acting as a go-between for private health development company Short Stays Private Hospitals, lodged a development application to build a six-storey private hospital.
This application was put on hold by council due to concerns of the development’s impact on the area, specifically citing traffic and public access as issues.
On September 5 a new application was lodged which reduced the size to five storeys and expanded the development to include land behind 476 Bridge Rd.
Holistic Property Group director James O’Dwyer said the new application hoped to address constructive criticism from council and incorporate the adjacent lot to build parking spaces.
Because of parking shortages at Mackay Base Hospital over 100 staff have been reported to use the area where the hospital would be built — currently a vacant lot at 476 Bridge Rd — for parking every day.
The existing apartments on Sarah St would see a reduction in common space and the demolition of units five and six at 1 Sarah St.
The community gardens, located to the West of the proposed development would share a driveway with Riverside Hospital and it is understood no public parking will be available for that space.
The private facility would include 60 hospital rooms, five operating theatres, health care services tenancies (pharmacy, medical imaging, pathology) and a small cafe.
Compared to the 2022 proposal, it has reduced tenancies for health services (three to two) and lowered the number of consulting suites from 11 to five.
A cardiac catheterisation lab is also proposed, which could add a redundancy to the existing one at the Mackay Base Hospital.
The cath lab will soon be closing for a minimum of two months as equipment is replaced, forcing patients to travel to Townsville.
In a media statement Short Stay Private Hospitals Director Leith MacMillan said the project aims to attract new talent to the region.
“We know that Mackay has increasingly become a destination for many in rural areas looking for medical treatment,” Ms MacMillan said.
“The development of a third major medical facility in Mackay will increase the diversity of healthcare providers.”
For housing, 16 single bedroom units will be constructed at the empty lot adjacent to 5 Sarah St and Sarah St will be extended to provide access.
Each unit will have an enclosed garage for parking and four visitor car parks will be provided.
While intended for separate sale, the developers have specified they or hospital operators can retain the units for use by staff.
Development of these units is expected to proceed following the construction of Riverside Hospital.
The Daily Mercury approached Ms MacMillan to ask questions about the proposal, but she was unavailable for comment.
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