Next stage of Westmead Private Hospital redevelopment approved

A major expansion of a western Sydney private hospital would see its height soar to 17 storeys and add to Australia’s most significant health and education precinct.

A major expansion of Westmead Private Hospital will see its height soar to almost 70m and add to Australia’s most significant health and education precinct- but the risk of flooding on the site looms.

Construction has started on stage three of the Ramsay Health facility and this week Parramatta Council gave stage-four proposal the green light, which permits heights to increase from 12m to 68m and would allow the hospital to contain 533 beds, 41 consulting rooms, 14 emergency bays and a 766-space carpark.

The major expansion at Mons Rd would see the hospital grow from its existing 191 beds and 349 parking spaces.

Westmead Private Hospital is a double-storey facility undergoing a massive upgrade. Picture: Angelo Velardo

The project has been deemed a significant piece of health infrastructure. The hospital is one of two facilities in Australia recognised for its metabolic and bariatric surgery and was the second in the nation to undertake a kidney autotransplant.

However, an assessment carried out by council officers raised concerns over flooding implications from Toongabbie and Milsons creeks.

A council report said a study would need to determine if flooding from Milsons Creek would be hazardous to the hospital redevelopment.

“Water in Toongabbie Creek also has the potential to rise up and flood the Westmead Private Hospital site to a significant extent with the site fully inundated during a probable maximum flooding event,’’ the report said.

“This includes Darcy Rd and Mons Rd, which results in loss of road access to and from the site.’’

A concept design shows the lofty stage four redevelopment.

A flood study is expected to be completed by the end of November but it is “unlikely to impact on the planning proposal itself”.

Greens councillor Phil Bradley opposed the proposal over flood and traffic concerns.

“There’s already gridlock in surrounding streets leading to the hospital south of the development and that intersection at Darcy Rd,’’ he said.

The NSW Planning Department will have the final say in the project.

Westmead is at the centre of a major infrastructure boom and the health precinct is recognised as the most significant in Australia.

Along with the private hospital upgrade, the neighbouring public Westmead Hospital is undergoing a $1 billion redevelopment including its 14-storey acute services building.

Major transport projects are bolstering the suburb, including the $2.4 billion Parramatta light rail and the Metro heavy rail network to shuttle commuters to the city from 2030.

Stage four is the last part of the private hospital’s redevelopment and will dwarf the third stage, which is under construction.

MORE NEWS

Covid NSW: How schools will celebrate safe school formals in Sydney

Billbergia Rhodes Central home to 1500 residents, shopping centre