Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-28 Daily Xml

Contents

Ministerial Statement

GLENSIDE HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (14:19): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: When we announced in September last year our plans to redevelop the Glenside site, we did so presenting a broad vision to the community; a concept that was open to the best ideas from interested parties. We have consulted widely since the release of the Glenside master plan and committed to ongoing dialogue with all interested parties. I am pleased to inform the council of what we have achieved. We have listened to the community, professionals, advocates and clinicians and we have struck a balance that we think better serves not only the wider community but also mental health consumers who will continue to seek vital treatment at the new hospital when it is completed.

The most significant changes, in accordance with the community's wishes, are that we have changed the planned location of the $100 million-plus hospital and the residential housing development. The hospital will now be built—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —on the southern side of the site, with housing to be moved to the north. By moving the hospital to the southern side of the site, services will be more closely integrated into the community, in line with the broad issues of the Stepping Up report, by being located adjacent to retail and commercial precincts. Not only has the location of the hospital changed but also, thanks to the community, we will now see an improved building design which is important to the overall amenity of the area, as well as actual service provision. The move will also ensure that the transition of patients will be simpler and less disruptive.

I am pleased to inform the council that, in addition to the community areas we have already promised to create, this updated plan provides for almost one hectare of additional usable public open space to be made available than was originally envisaged in the original concept master plan, again, thanks to the input of the local community.

I have instructed the Department of Health to continue a dialogue, in particular, with the community reference group. The reference group will be considering design use of open space on the site, such as the wetlands and the community park. The group will also offer me advice on other details to be considered, such as traffic access and heritage considerations. The master plan will be finalised shortly, and the public can comment further on the redevelopment as part of a proposed statutory rezoning exercise later in the year. Further details can be found on the SA Health website, including contact phone number, mailing address and email contact.