Page 4354 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019
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We are currently in the process of the very first stage of the main works procurement process. We will be working with design experts and with the community to understand all of the implications of this incredible facility that will deliver 40,000 square metres of state-of-the-art acute health services for ACT residents and those from the surrounding New South Wales region. Of course we want to get this right. That involves talking with and listening to the community.
Canberra Hospital—SPIRE project
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, building 5 is to be demolished to make way for construction of the SPIRE project. Building 5 includes accommodation facilities for interstate patients and their carers. Consultation sessions were held recently with regional New South Wales residents, and an online survey was developed about the proposed closure of the accommodation service. Minister, how many people attended each of the consultation sessions, how many completed the online survey, and what were the outcomes?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mrs Kikkert for the question. My understanding is that the online survey is still open. CHS has undertaken regional engagement in Goulburn, Bega and Batemans Bay. Some 60 consumers and carers, and referral and support organisations, attended the workshop sessions. That enabled participants to be heard, to discuss their needs when using the service while staying in Canberra, and then to make suggestions for alternative options for accommodation services based on those needs.
If people are hearing concerns from members of the community, particularly in the surrounding region of New South Wales, I would certainly encourage them to encourage those people to do the survey online or to get in touch with me or with Major Projects Canberra. There is information online in relation to this project.
We are very conscious of the fact that our $500 million investment in a new state-of-the-art emergency, surgical and critical healthcare facility at the hospital campus will require the demolition of building 5, which is valued by those in the community, but we are very committed to working with those who use that accommodation to ensure that appropriate alternatives will be available at the time that that building is required to be decanted.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, why has the government made no announcements about future accommodation services given that the current service will continue for only a few more months?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Because we are consulting with the community.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, building 5 also houses the Canberra sexual health centre. Are you able to give us any information about what might happen there?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Cheyne for the supplementary question. Of course, there has been a lot of work going into where the services in building 5 and
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