First private hospital
A PROPOSAL to build Canterbury Bankstown’s first private hospital in Campsie would provide a huge boost to local health services, but the plan isn’t without its doubters.
Planning for the 11-storey private hospital on Canterbury Road which is expected to create at least 450 full time jobs, will now proceed to a Gateway Determination from the Department of Planning and Environment, after Canterbury Bankstown said the proposal had merit.
The hospital would include eight operating theatres, rear lane access for users, staff and emergency vehicles, cafe, 382 parking spaces and a pharmacy.
Cr Barbara Coorey said she was concerned about the height of the building, access, its distance from Canterbury Hospital and how it would it affect the fight to have that hospital redeveloped, and suggested the facility go somewhere else.
“Im not against the hospital, just the site,” she said.
She also feared that if the hospital wasn’t approved, that the site could be turned into a residential building.
A council report stated that the new hospital would have significant positive social, economic and health related benefits.
“The private hospital will provide health services to support the nearby Canterbury Public Hospital including provision of health services not offered at the existing public hospital,” it stated.
“At present there are no private hospitals in the Canterbury Bankstown LGA and there is strong demand for such health facilities to operate within the LGA.
“The development would include a new rear lane, new pocket park, public art, contribution towards the design and construction of a new cycleway in Campsie and pedestrian and public domain improvements in the vicinity of the site to improve access for users.”
Cr Charlie Ishac welcomed the plan saying it would complement the existing hospital and “our community deserves this improvement”.
Mayor Khal Asfour said the council would be crazy not to take the proposal to the next stage, while council general manager Matthew Stewart said this was only the first step and there’s a lot more work to be done, including consulting the community.