Gunbalanya Health Centre: DA for $20m rebuild finally lodged, three and a half years after promise made

A development application has finally been lodged for the $20m rebuild of a West Arnhem health clinic and morgue, three-and-a-half years after former Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the project.

Render of the new $20m Gunbalanya Health Centre and morgue, for which a development application has finally been lodged after the project was first promised at the 2020 Territory election. Picture: Hames Sharley

A development application has finally been lodged for a $20m rebuild of a West Arnhem health clinic and morgue, three-and-a-half years after former Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the project.

Mr Gunner first announced the $20m commitment to rebuild the Gunbalanya Health Centre and morgue while campaigning for the 2020 Territory election.

Since then, the project has remained moored in the planning and design phase, but there was finally movement on January 31 with the lodgement of a development application, which has now gone on public exhibition until March 22.

The new 1256 sqm health centre would feature renal, pathology, dental, X-ray, emergency, and children’s, men and women-specific services within the main centre building, according to the plans.

Ancillary buildings will house an ambulance bay and a morgue, while the site would also feature an outdoor ceremony area, general carparking and a secure staff carpark.

Render of the new $20m Gunbalanya Health Centre and morgue, for which a development application has finally been lodged after the project was first promised at the 2020 Territory election. Picture: Hames Sharley

Construction of the new health centre would be staged so as to preserve the operations of the existing health centre until the new one is fully operational.

Whereas the existing health centre is to the south of the site, the new centre would be located to the north.

“It is proposed that the new main building will be built while the existing facility is still operational,” a report in support of the application stated.

“Once the new facility is operational the existing facility will be decommissioned and demolished.

The existing Gunbalanya Health Centre in West Arnhem. Picture: Hames Sharley

“The remainder of the site works, including the morgue and carpark, will then be completed.”

According to the report, architect Hames Sharley consulted with “key stakeholders along with community elders” when finalising the design, which is based upon the Remote Health Centre and Australian Health Facility Guidelines.

“The building is highly functional and architecturally designed considering the region, it’s location, history and culture,” the report stated.

“Materials were chosen with a heavy emphasis on constructability in a remote location that cannot be accessed by land vehicles during the wet season.”

An NT Health spokesman said there would be “movement on this project in the coming weeks and the Department of Health will be in a position to provide a full update then”.