Council error revealed Flinders Uni’s secret plan for huge $300m hospital, 1000+ homes, 2500 student beds

A council error has laid bare plans for a huge university city in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, with 1000 homes, 2500 student beds and a massive new $300m hospital.

An artist impression of Flinders’ HealthCARE Centre and residential housing proposal. Picture: Supplied

Secret Flinders University plans for a $300m hospital, more than 1000 new homes and 2500 student accommodation beds have been accidentally revealed by Mitcham Council.

The council published a detailed description of the proposal on its website this week, but removed the document after Flinders University explained it was provided confidentially.

Flinders University’s proposed new hospital, Flinders HealthCARE Centre, would create 10,000 new medical appointments a year for Adelaide’s southern suburbs and 1300 extra graduates a year across medical, nursing and allied health fields, according to the leaked document.

The proposed Flinders HealthCARE Centre. Picture: Supplied

In a second phase of the bold plan, the university would convert 16.5ha of Crown land into a substantial housing development with 1000 high-density homes and 60 medium-density family homes.

The university would also build more than 2500 student accommodation beds in its present Flinders Living accommodation precinct – essentially creating a “university city” at its Bedford Park campus in Adelaide’s south.

Flinders University has already started building the first $70m 250-bed building.

In the proposal, vice chancellor Professor Colin Stirling said the university would match $150m funding it is seeking from the federal government for the hospital.

“(Southern Adelaide Local Health Network) will require an additional 2000 health professionals within the next five years, and southern Adelaide is projected to face a shortfall of 244 hospital beds by 2036,” he said in the proposal.

He said the hospital proposal would address these issues and reduce Flinders Medical Centre’s outpatient wait times by 31 per cent.

To see the detail plan, go here

The building would also house a new aged-care research and workforce development centre, Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA), a $34m Flinders initiative funded by the federal government.

Developer-supplied example of the proposed medium-density family homes.

The plan would generate more than 650 jobs during the construction period, representing a $900m investment in southern Adelaide, according to the proposal.

The university’s modelling found the hospital and residential developments would generate $106.5m revenue a year from 2031.

A spokesman for Flinders University did not answer detailed questions.

“This project would create a unique opportunity for federal and state governments to partner with Flinders to help deliver more essential health services and housing options in the southern suburbs,” he said.

“The university is committed to retaining or enhancing the sporting and recreational facilities on our Bedford Park campus that are used by our students, staff and community groups.”

A spokesman for the state government said it was aware of the proposal from Flinders University, which has also been proposed to the federal government.

“We look forward to exploring this proposal further with Flinders University,” he said.

The Advertiser understands the state government received the proposal about a week ago.

Mitcham Council Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross said that on Tuesday night, the council discussed the proposal confidentially at the request of Flinders University.

Originally published as Council error revealed Flinders Uni’s secret plan for huge $300m hospital, 1000+ homes, 2500 student beds