Frenchs Forest: Renewed push for 80-bed private hospital to tackle mental health on northern beaches
A renewed application has been lodged with planning bureaucrats for a private mental health hospital on the northern beaches amid rising rates of illness.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A new step has been taken in the push for a 80-bed private mental health hospital to meet a growing demand for treatment — especially for teenagers — on the northern beaches.
Mental health groups have thrown their support behind the $54 million facility, which its developer says will meet “high level local unmet demands”.
Developers of the proposed Northern Beaches Health Hub at Frenchs Forest, CK Property Group, say it will slow local rates of suicide and self-harm, especially among young people.
Its managing director, Walt Coulston, said a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) has just been lodged with NSW planning authorities for the 8-storey facility in Tilley Ln, with a roof terrace, just minutes from the Northern Beaches Hospital.
“While the SSDA process has been quite complex, we believe the time and cost invested will bring about a significant social benefit for the community,” Mr Coulston said.
“Our focus is on establishing a much-needed mental health facility specifically for juveniles, and we sincerely hope that the Department of Planning, via its SSD process shares this vision and supports the application.”
A “scoping” report included in the application states that the facility “would have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of the broader North Shore community”.
It also pointed out that there was a shortfall of 145 mental health beds in its catchment area.
Once operational about 120 staff would be employed.
Mr Coulston said he had been talking with groups about leasing space in the proposed hospital.
A development application for a 6-storey private hospital on a former warehouse site in Tilley Lane, close to Northern Beaches Hospital, was approved in 2017, but the developer now wants to alter the DA to allow for the 8-storey building dedicated to in-house and outpatient mental health treatment.
The plans include private patient rooms with ensuite, as well as the rooftop garden; ground floor cafe, gym; protected “healing garden”and “reflective sitting nooks”.
The facility has already received support from youth preventive mental health support group, batyr.
Its CEO Nic Brown said last year that disruption to key life events and education had pushed social isolation and distress to higher rates “than ever”.
“Right now, demand for acute mental health services is at a high, while emergency department
presentations and ambulance attendances for suicidal and self-harm behaviours have also increased over the past year,” Mr Brown said.
“It’s important that additional resources are invested in a timely manner to address this and prevent any future risks in our community”.
If this article raises any issues, support is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Greyhound trainer’s ‘deadly’ doping mistake
A veteran Sydney greyhound trainer – who has had a squeaky clean record for three decades – and her dog have been disqualified from racing after the animal tested positive for banned substances.
‘Wowzee, he’s quick’: Rugby’s future on show in U14s County v City
There’s a son of a gun who couldn’t be more different from his famous dad with a rugby IQ ‘off the charts’. U14 guns to watch at City v Country rugby this weekend.