Footscray Clinical Hub: Residents fear Geelong Rd development would tear apart community and close Saltwater Child Care Centre

Upset Footscray residents have slammed the unprecedented lack of community engagement for a major private hospital development they fear will ruin their lives.

A $164.5m ‘Footscray Clinical Hub’ could be built directly across from the new Footscray Hospital and feature five operating theatres, cardiac and endoscopy units and nearly 50 inpatient rooms.

A group of western suburbs residents fear their community could be ripped apart to make way for a “massive” and “inappropriate” private hospital with little to no input from those living nearby.

Footscray residents were shocked to learn developers hope to build a nine-storey hospital with more than 100 car parks on their doorstep, and have been enraged by what some have labelled a “secretive” approach.

Five homes are expected to be levelled to make way for the nearly 40m structure that would sit across from the new Footscray public hospital, but residents say its impact will be far wider.

The private facility would face the new public hospital and “overshadow” a number of Footscray homes. Picture: Nilsson Jones

In November, Erica Healthcare Partners submitted plans to the state government for the $164.5m Footscray Clinical Hub which would feature five operating theatres, cardiac and endoscopy units and have capacity for nearly 50 inpatient rooms.

However, staff and parents from the neighbouring childcare centre, which has been part of the community for more than 30 years, fears it would be forced to close if the project was approved.

Saltwater Child Care Centre manager Nancy Casella said the community had significant safety and privacy concerns for its operations both during and after construction.

Staff and families of the Saltwater Child Care Centre fear the development would close the centre.
Picture: Nilsson Jones

“The uncertainties of closing and what this will do to our centre has caused anger and disbelief … we’re fearful that our community will be torn, forcing us out of something we regard as irreplaceable; our connection to each other,” Ms Casella said.

“We find it difficult to understand how we can possibly operate, the safety concerns are huge with our outdoor yard and rooms easily viewed, where does that leave the privacy and safety of the children in our care?”

It comes as residents have already had to contend with the construction of the new public hospital for the past three years.

Local Anson Le said the community was “completely blindsided” with the absence of communication and believed the developer’s conduct was “woefully inadequate”.

“Issuing a single letter, at a time when many locals were travelling, returning to work or preparing their children for the new school year diminished our opportunity for a constructive relationship,” Mr Le said.

Residents Anson and Jacqui Le are furious about the lack of engagement and believe the development is unsuitable. Picture: Nilsson Jones

“This project is completely unsuitable in its current design for a multitude of reasons including its sheer size and how it will overlook and overshadow a number of homes, making them completely unlivable … my children will no longer have a safe space with sunshine in their own backyard.

“The current proposal clearly breaches many key planning parameters for the local area, it will undoubtedly destroy the character of this beautiful, tight-knit neighbourhood, it is twice the maximum preferred height for this zone.”

Despite submitting the plans in November, residents told the Herald Sun there was no communication by Erica until late January, giving them fewer than 10 business days to respond.

Neighbouring properties received formal notification from the state government on January 24 and learned Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny would not make a decision before February 5.

A brochure has circulated community inviting residents to oppose the project.

Last year, City of Maribyrnong councillors opposed the development on the basis it was unsuitable for the area, but the council was bypassed due to the cost of the development being greater than $50m.

Councillor Michael Clarke had never seen such a significant project with the potential to “alienate the service provider from the community” and said the lack of engagement was akin to an “eastern block” approach.

“The execution has been completely hopeless, they have not been prepared to work with council let alone residents, it goes against the whole idea of these projects and their supposed commitment to community.”

Maribyrnong councillor Michael Clarke opposed the project and the developer’s approach.

Maribyrnong chief executive officer Celia Haddock said the development would “overwhelm” the residential area to the south and east of the site and would unreasonably restrict the rights of residents to enjoy their backyards.

Ms Haddock said the impact on parking in surrounding streets was unknown because the developer “failed” to consider parking impact of the new public hospital.

 “Council has expressed a need for the State to engage meaningfully with Council and residents regarding the proposal,” Ms Haddock said.

Residents have established an online petition and amassed about 300 signatures (physical petition) as well as lodging a number of objections with the Department of Transport and Planning.

Footscray Labor MP Katie Hall said she was aware of the concerns raised by objectors and had shared their views with the Planning Minister.

“It is important to me to ensure that the voices of my community members are considered in this process.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Planning said: “The plans for the proposed private Footscray are still available online. No decision has been made and we welcome submissions from the community which will be considered as a part of the decision making process.”

Ms Kilkenny and Erica Healthcare Partners were contacted for comment.