Page 4022 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 17 November 2015
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This is a very important outcome for ACT Health. Obviously, the other aspects of these changes relate to a new modern shopfront to be delivered for residents of Woden and Weston Creek through the Access Canberra staff move. But for Health, what I can say very clearly is that this is a great outcome for value for money in terms of the leasing costs that Health will incur for its staff accommodation. At the same time, close proximity to the Canberra Hospital will improve the access that we have when it comes to the delivery of front-line hospital services for the Health Directorate. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Fitzharris.
MS FITZHARRIS: Minister, what type of space is needed and how will the decision on the new premises be made?
MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Fitzharris, could you rephrase that so that it relates to the minister’s portfolio, in terms of the type of space related to Health; otherwise it is outside the minister’s responsibility.
MS FITZHARRIS: Minister, what type of space is needed for ACT Health staff, and how will the decision on the new ACT Health premises be made?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Fitzharris for the supplementary. We estimate that around 11,000 square metres of office space will be required for ACT Health functions. Combined with Access Canberra functions, it is around 15½ thousand square metres of office space.
The government will move to a registration of interest process this week, which will encourage building owners and operators in Woden to lodge their interest in providing suitable accommodation that meets the specifications and requirements for the office space that we have indentified. The registration of interest process will close early in December. The registration of interest will identify that a lease is sought from as early as possible in the next calendar year. We anticipate that the procurement process and evaluation will be progressed and potentially completed by the end of the first quarter of next year.
We are demonstrating that we are serious about getting this move underway. We want to see better support for Woden, for the Woden town centre, for the commercial viability of the town centre, and also we want to see value for money for ACT taxpayers and better access for the day-to-day work that ACT Health staff do in our headquarters, with our front-line service providers at the Canberra Hospital. This move ticks all of those boxes. It is a great outcome for Woden; it is a great outcome for Health. We look forward to getting on with implementing it.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, what benefits will this move of ACT Health to Woden have for the Woden community?
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