Page 4114 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 22 October 2019
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MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Gupta for the supplementary and his interest in the services that are currently within the footprint of the SPIRE project, a subject that I know has been of some interest for many consumers. The emergency, surgical and critical healthcare facility that will be delivered by the SPIRE project will transform the Canberra Hospital.
The project will deliver a 40,000-square metre state-of-the-art facility at the Canberra Hospital campus, significantly increasing acute services capacity and supporting Canberra Hospital’s role as the region’s principal tertiary hospital. It will deliver more emergency department treatment areas, more ICU beds, including paediatric beds, as well as state-of-the-art operating theatres that will allow for the use of advanced medical technology and techniques.
But to facilitate this important project a number of existing functions will need to be relocated. The movement of service areas to enable the demolition of buildings 5 and 24 is currently a key focus for the project team. Alternative locations have been identified for the administrative and training services currently within these buildings and for the child at risk health unit. The Canberra sexual health centre will be relocated to new facilities to be constructed on the site of the current building 8. I am pleased to advise that preparatory works are expected to commence later this year on the construction of the first modular building which will temporarily house the Canberra Health Services executive team currently located in building 24.
The new areas for these functions that need to be relocated are being designed to meet the functional requirements of the users and community. The relocation of staff and services from within buildings 5 and 24 are to be staged throughout 2020. This is exciting progress for the SPIRE project and will facilitate the commencement of main works in early 2021 to deliver more health services for Canberrans where and when they need them.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what consultation and work are you doing with the Garran community to assuage their concerns about access to the SPIRE site off Palmer Street and Gilmore Street where there are 600 children in school?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I am obviously aware of some concerns that have been raised by Garran residents, including in phone calls to Chief Minister’s talkback. I have certainly made a very strong commitment—indirectly at this point but I am happy to make it here in the chamber—to consulting directly myself with Garran residents. I would say that this issue arose as Major Projects Canberra commits to consultation with Garran residents and the school community.
On 26 August, the SPIRE team from MPC met with the Garran Primary School deputy principal, the school board chair, the department of education and the ACT Health directorate. On 26 September, the SPIRE project team from Major Projects Canberra held a community consultation with the local community at the Garran Primary School.
At this community consultation, as we are aware, concerns were raised by local residents in relation to increased traffic and its potential impact on public safety,
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