News - Planning & development

Imagine if the ACT Government could start over again with the Canberra Hospital at Garran? Master planned from Day 1, the current problems of car park congestion, and more could all be avoided.

As the sale of Calvary Hospital in Bruce to the ACT Government has fallen over, there is a very real opportunity for the ACT Government to build a third ACT hospital to serve the growing health needs of Canberra residents on the north side.

The ideal location for this hospital is right in the Gungahlin Town Centre.

When the new Territory Plan was gazetted in March 2009, it included rezoning of almost 40 hectares of land that was earmarked for townhouses to CZ2 Zone—Business. This land presents a unique opportunity for the ACT Government to plan an entire new hospital precinct.

Each building could be up to eight floors (transitioned down to surrounding residential areas), with multi-level carparking built in from the start. There is ample space to expand the hospital gradually, and to include the $18 million Community Health Clinic currently planned for one block away in Ernerst Cavangh Street.

There would also be plenty of land to include respite accommodation, specialist day hospital services, and much more. With each block developed to its highest density, the remaining land could remain vacant—‘banked’ until needed.

There could also be the opportunity to partner with the Australian National University to use the hospital as a research and training base. In an era when medical professionals are hard to attract to Canberra, what better way than to provide an entire education and career path for our own kids, who would be much more likely to stay here?

For the hundreds of employees, there is an existing established town centre right next door, with almost every service people need close to their workplace.

Centrally located in what will be a population of 100,000 people, and just six minutes from Dickson or 12 minutes from Belconnen.

The ACT Government intended spending some $200 million at Calvary this year, plus there is the $18 million for the Community Health Clinic—that would be a pretty good start.
You know it makes sense…