Campbelltown Library to be moved in NorthWest Healthcare Cancer centre plans
A major western Sydney Library will be forced to relocate after it was announced a $52 million health hub would is to take place.
Macarthur
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The fate of the Campbelltown City Library is up in the air after a major health hub development was announced for the CBD, as council explores options for a new location.
On Wednesday, NorthWest Healthcare Properties announced it had acquired an expansive 28,000sq m at the corner of Camden Rd and Hurley St, Campbelltown from council for the development of a four-storey specialist healthcare precinct — expected to open next year.
The state-of-the-art integrated cancer centre and research hub will be built across 4,473sq m of the site, and be operated by GenesisCare.
The remaining 23,367sq m is earmarked for the construction of a staged healthcare precinct.
While the first stage of the health precinct will not impact the library, the building is most likely to be demolished and the service moved, but council have not settled on a new location.
Campbelltown City Council city lifestyles director Scott Grant said the 2018 library strategic plan demonstrated that the current facility won’t meet the needs of the community in the long-term.
He said as a result, council has been planning for a new city library as identified in it ‘Reimagining City Centre Master Plan’, released in 2020.
“While this first stage of development does not impact the services and access to HJ Daley Library and Namut Early Learning Centre, future stages will require that we relocate to another site,” Mr Grant said.
“To achieve this, we are exploring a variety of options for accommodating the library and child care functions within the city centre.
“In the long term, a new city library will be built that incorporates state-of-the-art technologies and designs to enhance education and learning opportunities in the Campbelltown CBD.”
Mr Grant said council would conduct a series of consultation sessions to work with the community and identify their ambitions for a new library in the city centre.
$52M CANCER CENTRE PLANS REVEALED FOR CITY’S SOUTHWEST
February 16 – Annie Lewis and Jake McCallum
Groundbreaking plans for a $52 million, private world-class cancer care centre and health hub have been lodged for Sydney’s southwest in an effort to bolster healthcare in an ‘under-serviced’ community.
On Wednesday, NorthWest Healthcare Properties announced it had acquired an expansive 28,000sq m at the corner of Camden Rd and Hurley St, Campbelltown from council for the development of a four-storey specialist healthcare precinct — expected to open next year.
The development of the health precinct has been proposed for the site of the existing HJ Daley Library, operated by Campbelltown Council.
The state-of-the-art integrated cancer centre and research hub will be built across 4,473sq m of the site, and be operated by GenesisCare.
The remaining 23,367 sqm is earmarked for the construction of a staged healthcare precinct.
The health organisation is partnering with local specialists, a diagnostic imaging provider and a pathology provider to deliver cancer services to patients.
The first stage of the proposed development will also include 65 carparking spaces.
GenesisCare general manager Fergus Rourke said the centre would provide a “critical service” to patients.
“South west Sydney is one of the fastest growing corridors in NSW and it is absolutely critical that we invest in the right healthcare infrastructure to ensure the needs of cancer patients are met now and in the future,” he said.
“Our integrated cancer centre and research hub will provide patients access to radiation oncology, medical oncology, allied health and wellness services, all in one convenient location, as well as diagnostic imaging and pathology operated by trusted partners.
“The centre will also have a strong focus on clinical trials and will provide patients access to the latest state-of-the-art equipment and treatment advances.”
NorthWest senior vice president Alex Belcastro said she was thrilled to announce the start of stage one as a comprehensive, integrated cancer centre.
“This further expands our long-held partnership with GenesisCare and will importantly service the demand for healthcare services in this south west Sydney growth corridor.
“The opportunity to secure a site in the heart of Campbelltown, one of the fastest growing cities in Australia, around 50km southwest of the Sydney CBD and 20km southwest of Liverpool, was a strategic priority for NorthWest.
“There is already an under-servicing of private healthcare facilities in this region.”
Ms Belcastro said NorthWest would be developing long-term plans for a state-of-the-art healthcare precinct.
She said they would look to combine complementary health services, once they have obtained the required level of tenant precommitment.
“The site we have acquired on which the healthcare precinct would be developed, adjacent to the cancer centre, is likely the only healthcare development opportunity remaining in Campbelltown,” Ms Belcastro said.
“We look forward to bringing together the best healthcare providers to improve and expand the delivery of health services to south west Sydney.”
Development consent has been granted for the four-storey cancer centre, while Campbelltown mayor George Greiss said it was exciting to see the project take another step towards construction.
“This will be a cornerstone facility as part our health and education precinct, providing critical health services to communities across our city and the broader region,” he said.
“This development is a significant investment in Campbelltown that will contribute to the ongoing growth of our city centre and stimulate the economy through the creation of additional jobs, both during the construction phase and in the long-term health care professional sector.”
The first stage of the health hub — the cancer care centre — will look to open to patients from mid-2023.
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