State Government grant designation for new private hospital in Woolloongabba
A 24-hour private hospital will be built at a derelict site in Brisbane after the State Government granted the developer a special designation.
Southeast
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A sixth hospital is set to be built in Brisbane’s south after a developer was granted a special designation to transform a derelict site into a giant 10-storey medical centre.
Property developers, Pikos, were given the all clear from the State Government on April 9 for the 24-hour hospital at 52-64 Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba after submitting a request for a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation last September.
The project will include an inpatient unit, operating theatres, support services, recreation areas and carparking.
When operational the hospital will cater for approximately 100 patients and 355 full-time staff.
Pikos needed an MID after changing the previous proposal, which was approved by the Brisbane City Council in 2018, from a 10-storey building with health facilities and a childcare centre to a private hospital.
The State Government said the applicant (Pikos) undertook pre-engagement consultation with key stakeholders, including the council and surrounding residents and formal public notification, where the community could have their say was held between December 7 and January 22.
“This Ministerial Infrastructure Designation supports the construction of infrastructure that will create jobs and benefit the community,” Deputy Premier and Planning Minister, Steven Miles, said.
“The area has been designated for ‘hospital and health care services’, which is fitting given the close proximity to other public and private health services.”
“Construction of the hospital is required to be undertaken in accordance with the imposed development requirements, including requirement to address the concerns raised during the submission process.”
Greens politicians, including State Member for South Brisbane Amy McMahon and Councillor for The Gabba Jonathan Sri, both opposed the project after being concerned about the negative impact it would have on the community.
Ms McMahon echoed those comments after hearing the State Government granted the MID.
“Pushing this through as a fast-tracked Ministerial Infrastructure Designation has meant local residents have barely been consulted. My office is still hearing from local residents, who have only just heard about this development,” she said.
“Local residents are rightly worried about this development bringing additional traffic to this already heavily congested area.
“There’s no improvements planned for nearby intersections and no provisions for minimising the impacts on the Annerley Rd bike lane. I don’t think these roads can safely accommodate so much extra traffic.”
Ms McMahon also said the approval raised questions about the MID process.
“I think there are some serious questions about whether private, for-profit entities should be able to access fast-tracked development approvals like Ministerial Infrastructure Designations,” she said.
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“In the past, MIDs were only for government bodies to build things like schools, fire stations and arts and sports facilities. Now, private entities can also apply, to build things like private aged care centres, or in this case, a private hospital.
“If there is a big gap in accessible healthcare facilities in South Brisbane, that’s a gap the government should be filling, rather than opening a planning loophole for private companies.”
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