Repatriation General Hospital

In reply to the Hon. S.G. WADE (10 September 2015).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change):

The Repatriation General Hospital comprises a mix of heritage-listed buildings, purpose-built buildings (such as the rehabilitation centre), university facilities and special areas of significance to veterans (chapel, museum and the remembrance (peace) garden) and, as such, represents a diverse site presenting a wide variety of opportunities for the future.

The state government has promised to retain the chapel, museum and the remembrance garden due to their considerable significance, particularly to veterans' and their families.

The site has heritage protection on nine other buildings, sections of land and building facades, including the SPF Hall. These other heritage areas were considered suitable for adaptive re-use within the criteria established for the site including but not limited to the following:

Rehabilitation

Respite care

Retirement or other services for older people

Primary health services

Teaching and other academic uses

Community facilities

In responding to the expression of interest, proponents are required to outline how they will comply with heritage requirements for those identified heritage-listed sites before any decisions about the future of the site.

Responsibility to protect and maintain the state heritage-listed buildings remains, no matter who owns those buildings.

Any development proposals for the property will require a development application to the relevant planning authority. Those applications must also be referred to me in my capacity as the minister responsible for the Heritage Places Act 1993, for advice as to the impact of any development on the heritage values of this State Heritage Place.

There are a number of examples of state government-owned buildings that are heritage-listed and have been sold or leased into private hands with good heritage outcomes, including the governor's former summer residence at Marble Hill and the Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury on Victoria Square.