Ex-hospital boss exposes ‘badly planned’ Suburban Loop

A former Box Hill Hospital CEO has sounded the alarm on the Andrews government’s handling of the Suburban Rail Loop.

A former Box Hill Hospital CEO has sounded the alarm on the mammoth Suburban Rail Loop, warning construction of the $35bn project will cause serious issues for health services in the area.

Michael Kirk blasted the Andrews government and the Suburban Rail Loop Authority’s handling of the project during a heated community transport forum last week.

Mr Kirk accused project organisers of failing to adequately consult with the community and local stakeholders.

“The planning for the SRL, as far as it is concerned with Box Hill, is absolutely absent,” he said.

“There is no communication about what is being talked about for this area, and it’s bloody serious.”

Central Box Hill will become a construction zone for six years while the largest and most complex station for the rail loop is built. The mega project’s first phase will link Cheltenham to Box Hill via a 26km tunnel.

A concept design for Box Hill station once the SRL is complete.

The underground station at Box Hill – located in the heart of the city centre and north of the existing station – has been touted as “one of the busiest and most-well connected stations” on the metropolitan network.

Speaking at the forum, Mr Kirk warned ambulances attempting to access both Box Hill Hospital and the Eastern Epworth would be severely impacted by the planned reduction of Whitehorse Rd during the lengthy construction period.

“If the road is reduced to two lanes each way, I’d like to know how the ambulances in an emergency service are going to get to Box Hill or Epworth Eastern,” he said.

“I think it is badly planned … I do wish the people who are doing this would consult with the community.”

During the EES process, Epworth hospital also raised similar concerns about the traffic impacts to the Box Hill health and education precinct.

“Epworth is concerned about the traffic impacts … during construction,” their submission stated.

“Thames Street, Arnold Street and Nelson Road are critical access routes for patients, patient transfers and ambulances within the Box Hill Health and Education Precinct.

“Epworth submits that traffic management measures should be in place to ensure that traffic is not directed through those roads so as not to unreasonably impact hospital operations and patient safety.”

There are concerns the SRL project will impact emergency operations at Box Hill hospital. Picture: Ian Currie

A Suburban Rail Loop Authority spokeswoman said the project will deliver “enormous benefits” including faster and more convenient access to hospitals and services in the growing health precinct.

“There’ll be no impact to ambulance or patient access during construction,” she said.

“Construction of the underground SRL station at Box Hill will be carefully managed to minimise disruptions in the local area — and we’re working with emergency services, Ambulance Victoria and hospitals to ensure clear access for ambulances, medical staff and visitors.”

“Other major infrastructure projects both here and around the world, including the Metro Tunnel at Parkville, show that construction and traffic can be managed to maintain access for emergency services.”

The SRL project is one the Andrews government’s major infrastructure projects. Picture: Luis Ascui

The authority said if access is restricted on Whitehorse Road, alternative access will be determined and communicated with emergency services.

Liberal candidate for Box Hill, Nicole Ta-Ei Werner, said residents had been “disdainfully treated” throughout the merger of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills stations to become Union Station.

“This experience has made it clear to our community that the SRL will be no different; reflecting the same lack of proper planning and transparency and failure to consult with the community as already experienced through this (Union Station) project,” she said.

“It will be more than 10 years before the SRL in Box Hill is complete, impacting a radius of 1.6km per station - disrupting businesses, family homes, our local roads and peoples lives.”

Eastern Health did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Originally published as Ex-hospital boss exposes ‘badly planned’ Suburban Loop