Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-09-09 Daily Xml

Contents

GLENSIDE HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (15:39): Will the Minister for Urban Development and Planning provide details of the government's plans for the Glenside campus?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:40): The major redevelopment of Glenside is for a centre of specialist mental health. The government's mental health reform process is aimed at rejuvenating the Glenside campus with a new 129 bed world-class hospital, including new purpose built specialist services for mental health.

The Glenside campus will be transformed not only by the new 129 bed specialist hospital but by intermediate care services; new housing, including affordable homes for those on low and moderate incomes; a retail development; and significant open and village green areas.

Last month, I announced the rezoning of the Glenside campus as being finalised, after a lengthy consultation process that took into account feedback from the South Australian community. The final version of the rezoning incorporates changes that address many of the concerns raised by members of the public during an extensive community consultation process. More than 40 written submissions were received, and some 150 people attended a public meeting, as the government encouraged community input into the proposed rezoning. Some concerns with the draft rezoning were raised during the process, prompting some changes to the final ministerial development plan amendment.

The rezoning reflects the changes envisaged in the master plan for the redevelopment of the Glenside campus, which was published in April last year following the public consultation. The rezoning will allow the redevelopment of the campus to accommodate new buildings, streets, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and open spaces and plazas, all located in an attractive and well landscaped environment that is safe and secure.

Policy prescriptions for the area covered by the development plan amendment encourage the construction of buildings that incorporate energy efficient and water sensitive design. Increased areas of open space, particularly in the north-west corner of the site, aim to encourage stormwater management which will enhance the pleasant environment for recreation and relaxation which exists on the Glenside campus.

Established large trees are to be retained in public open spaces, road reserves and areas set aside for landscaping, while the hospital zone will also incorporate courtyards and terraces. Landscaping is to include drought tolerant vegetation that complements the buildings and caters for different types of recreation.

Work is also scheduled to begin soon on the $42.95 million Adelaide film and screen centre at Glenside. The centre will mark the beginning of a brilliant new era for the local film industry by fostering the next generation of film makers and strengthening South Australia's national position as a leader and innovator in film.

Some people have been spreading misinformation about our plans for redeveloping this part of Adelaide and asserting that the government plans to close Glenside Hospital and move all mental health services from this inner city site. Nothing could be further from the truth. During the remainder of this year, there will be more than 30 staged moves of services across the site, which will eventually see existing services consolidating into 14 existing buildings by late 2009.

The Glenside campus will be transformed not only by the new 129 bed specialist hospital but also by intermediate care services. This transformation of mental health services at Glenside will allow us to do more with this important site. This includes the provision of new housing, including affordable homes for people on low and moderate incomes. As normally happens during this process, the consultation on a proposed rezoning becomes a lightning rod for the community to raise other issues that are beyond the scope of the development plan amendment. However, having said that, I advise that the state government will seek to work with the City of Burnside to address site development issues raised in some of the submissions, such as traffic management.