Greens oppose State Government exception for new hospital development in Woolloongabba
A developer has applied to the State Government to turn a derelict site in Brisbane’s south into a new hospital.
Southeast
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A derelict site in Brisbane’s inner-south could be turned into a new private hospital after a developer applied for a special designation from the State Government..
The Brisbane City Council previously approved the application for a 10-storey building with health facilities, food and drink and a childcare centre at 52-64 Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba in 2018.
However, the site can now be transformed a 24-hour private hospital after the developers – The Pikos Group – applied for a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation on September 3 last year.
The proposed works include the construction of a 10-storey hospital building comprising an inpatient unit, operating theatres, support services, recreation areas, basement carparking and other minor works.
The hospital will cater for approximately 100 patients and 355 full-time equivalent staff.
But the change has local politicians worried with State Member for South Brisbane Amy McMahon and Councillor for Woolloongabba Jonathan Sri, both Greens, concerned about the negative impact such a project would have on the community.
“Ministerial Infrastructure Designations are a streamlined approvals process approved by the Planning Minister, and in the past were reserved for things like arts and sports facilities, police and fire stations, and schools,” Ms McMahon said.
“Under changes made by Queensland Labor, private entities are now also able to apply for MIDs, opening the door for for-profit developments, and in this case a small private hospital, to access a fast, cheaper approvals process.
“This site already has a DA approved by the BCC for the construction of a building with health facilities, food and drink and a childcare centre. In contrast, a hospital can run 24 hours, seven days a week and allows for overnight stays.
“We’re concerned about impact on traffic and parking in an already busy and congested area. This hospital would cover a block between two already busy residential streets.”
Ms McMahon said she had already been contacted by local residents, who were concerned about the impact a private hospital would have on already congested local streets and also whether a project like this was in the public benefit.
The call comes as the project would be the sixth hospital in the area with the Mater Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Greenslopes Hospital and QEII Hospital already all located in Brisbane’s south.
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Cr Sri said they weren’t against new hospitals but wanted to make sure they were in the best possible locations.
“We’re concerned this project might create a situation where ambulances and other hospital traffic get held up trying to turn across a major bikeway,” he said.
“Dropping another private hospital into an area that already has serious traffic issues and a massive existing private hospital across the road doesn’t help anyone. New hospitals should be built in neighbourhoods that have a shortage of healthcare facilities.”
A spokesman for Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles said all MID applications go through a rigorous and fair process.
“The process includes input from the relevant local government and surrounding community and considers the range of potential impacts that may arise, such as traffic, impacts to surrounding amenities and the environment,” he said.
“This is about building infrastructure that creates jobs and benefits the community.”
Ms McMahon said there were other things the area needed more than another hospital.
“Ultimately the kind of infrastructure our community really needs is affordable housing, and publicly-funded services like mental healthcare and free GPs,” she said.
“We also need free hospital parking, to take the pressure off residential streets in the neighbourhood.”
Public notification for the MID started on December 2 and finished on January 22.
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