Meadowbrook street to be levelled for luxury private healthcare facility

A southside cul-de-sac will be bulldozed and residents of 15 houses moved as plans take shape for one of the state’s most comprehensive health hubs.

Residents of Buttercup Close at Meadowbrook, where 15 houses have been bought by a developer to build a private carpark and seven-storey health centre. Photo: Google

A southside cul-de-sac will be bulldozed and residents of 15 houses moved as plans for one of the state’s most comprehensive healthcare hubs stream-roll on.

Half of Buttercup Close, at Meadowbrook, right next door to Logan Hospital, will be levelled and transformed into a carpark and private healthcare centre.

State Development Minister Steven Miles approved developer Northwest’s seven-storey centre and carpark last month with the private facility abutting Logan’s busy and expanding hospital.

The cul-de-sac will be closed off and the land, believed to be about half a hectare, will be used for the centre and above-ground parking.

An artist’s image of Northwest’s proposed healthcare centre.

Residents, who asked to remain anonymous, said there were still two landowners in the street who had railed against selling up for the project.

However, all 15 other land owners have accepted deals, ranging from below $520,000 to more than $1.2 million with Northwest.

More than 30 people are still living in the street, where all houses on one side of the close will be demolished for the clinic and two houses on each side will be levelled for the carpark.

Red shows where the health centre will be built on Buttercup Close with carparking in the grey areas. The complex will eventually include a pharmacy, medical imaging, a cafe and retail outlets. Logan Hospital is pictured at the bottom of the image.

Residents said they believed landowners in neighbouring streets were also being offered deals as plans for the health centre expanded.

“Our family member, who owned the Buttercup Close property, accepted a deal early on and received the minimum compensation — but he knew he did not stand a chance if everyone else was selling,” a resident in the street said.

“We still don’t know when the houses will be demolished but many of the neighbours have already moved out because it is too stressful waiting for the final day.

“It is an unfortunate situation for the families and individuals as it leaves many with nowhere to go as the current market is not the friendliest.”

Plans show a cafe, retail outlets, a pharmacy, medical imaging suites along with carparking and medical clinic.

The project is part of a state government ministerial designation which gives Planning Minister Steven Miles ultimate control over planning decisions and requests.

In May, Mr Miles invited public submissions about the proposal after notifying Logan council and landowners that he was proposing to step.

Ten submissions — from the council, neighbouring landholders, native title holders and other health care providers, were lodged with the state planning department.

In his designation ruling, Mr Miles said the development must include a minimum of 528 carparking spaces on site, including 11 for people with disabilities and 34 secure cycle parking spaces.

Planning Minister Steven Miles’ ministerial designation for the Meadowbrook precinct.

Northwest would also have to build a raised pedestrian link from the Meadowbrook Health Care Centre to the Logan Hospital.

The private facility will also be within 1km of a new $150 million private hospital and health hub being built by fund managers Australian Unity, which owns a portfolio of 76 high-grade healthcare assets, including hospitals.

Mr Miles said last year the plan was to turn Meadowbrook into a sleek southside health hub to cater for one of the state’s fastest growing residential corridors.

He said the new private health centres and hospital, along with a $250 million expansion of Logan Hospital, would seal Meadowbrook’s position as a health and education precinct.

Northwest’s private health centre will be in walking distance to the planned private hospital being proposed by Australian Unity and Matilda Health.

A proposed new private medical and healthcare precinct will be within walking distance to Logan Hospital and to a new private hospital.

Plans for the five-star luxury private hospital facility, complete with nine operating theatres, were lodged with Logan City Council last year.

The Matilda Meadowbrook Private Hospital will be built on Nestor Dr, opposite the public hospital and behind a large Woolworths complex, a short walk from the Buttercup Close facility.

The private hospital will be next to the Meadowbrook Healthcare Hub at 6-10 Nestor Dr, which is due for completion next year with half of all units sold.

It will be Matilda Health Care’s third private hospital and its second in partnership with Australian Unity.

Construction is expected to start soon on the private hospital, which will form part of the proposed 1.6ha Meadowbrook health precinct and include a hotel, childcare, and retail services.

Northwest Healthcare Properties executive director Chris Adams said the company successfully acquired the 15 house blocks for the approved private facility and was now reviewing procurement options for the project.