Mater Hospital expansion would be a traffic disaster, MP says

The most ambitious expansion in years at this landmark Brisbane hospital will create traffic chaos, the local councillor and state MP fear.

Plans for a major expansion of the Mater Hospital complex would create a giant traffic bottleneck across South Brisbane, the local state MP and councillor fear.

The Mater Hill master plan, which includes a cluster of multistorey buildings fronting Raymond Tce, Stanley St and Clarence St, is due to go out for public consultation early next year.

The Mater is hoping to gain approval through a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation, a controversial process which sidesteps Council planning laws and does not allow residents to take legal action.

There has been a spate of MIDs in recent months, including one for a nearby, 10-level, 24-hour private hospital on Annerley Rd.

Jonathan Sri, and Amy McMahon.

The Gabba Ward Councillor, Jonathan Sri, and South Brisbane state MP Amy MacMahon said they were deeply concerned about the potential for traffic congestion and the lack of transparency provided under an MID.

Cr Sri feared bottlenecks could extend as far back as the M1 off ramp at Stanley St, Vulture and Stanley streets and Annerley Rd.

But the Mater defended its plans, saying some of the buildings might never go ahead.

It also said the maximum heights proposed in the master plan were consistent with, or less than, that allowed under Brisbane City Plan 2014.

“Building height is concentrated around Raymond Tce and Stanley St. The maximum height proposed adjacent Clarence St is half that allowed under Brisbane City Plan 2014,’’ the Mater said on its MID website.

How a possible clinical services building on the site might look.

Ms MacMahon said that, among other concerns, MIDs meant the proponent paid Council no infrastructure charges, no fees and residents and community groups had no right of appeal.

“This is a back door for approvals of big developments. We’re really concerned about the use of MIDs as they also don’t have to follow planning rules,’’ she said.

“They were originally meant to be used only for Government-administered projects but that was changed in 2016 to allow private institutions as well.

“In this area alone we have already seen St Vincents Hospital at Kangaroo Point and another private hospital at 64 Annerley Rd use this process.’’

Cr Sri said as well as being extremely undemocratic, MIDs allowed approvals for projects even if no details were made available.

“The one at the hospital on Annerley Rd did not even take into account that there was a bus stop and separated bike path right where they wanted to put the ambulance drop off,’’ Cr Sri said.

The Mater has submitted an expansion plan to the State Government via an MID.

“The Mater Hill plan is significant not just for that site, it will have significant traffic impacts that could clog up the whole of the South Brisbane area.’’

The Mater website described the master plan as a “holistic, planned approach (to) the site, considering the best use of Mater’s landholdings’’.

“(It) presents a range of proposed sustainable development opportunities in the areas of health and healthcare, residential care and education.

“This preliminary plan signals our intention for development.

“However, Mater may not undertake all of the initiatives proposed. Our plans will continue to be shaped by the healthcare needs of our community and all plans are subject to approval.’’

A Mater spokeswoman said the hospital would soon lodge an application which would include a traffic impact assessment, appropriate technical reports and the outcomes of preliminary community and stakeholder consultation.

“The MID application must also have regard to Council’s Planning Scheme,’’ she said.

More details at: mater.org.au/materhill