Page 2045 - Week 07 - Thursday, 20 August 2020
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Planning and Urban Renewal—Standing Committee
Report 14
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (10.38): I present the following report:
Planning and Urban Renewal—Standing Committee—Report 14—Inquiry into Planning for the Surgical Procedures, Interventional Radiology and Emergency Centre (SPIRE) and the Canberra Hospital campus and immediate surrounds, dated 19 August 2020, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.
I move:
That the report be noted.
This is the 14th report of the planning and urban renewal committee to the Ninth Assembly. The report presents our findings from the inquiry into planning for the Surgical Procedures, Interventional Radiology and Emergency Centre, SPIRE, and the Canberra Hospital campus and immediate surrounds—the SPIRE inquiry, which was self-referred by the committee on 11 December 2019, following the receipt of two petitions in relation to community concerns.
The timing of this inquiry was unfortunate. The inquiry having been referred in December, by the time we came to inquire, the COVID emergency situation had begun but the committee system had not transited to the new arrangements of offsite virtual hearings. So we did not actually hold any hearings in this; instead, we called for submissions. I would like very much to thank the people who did submit.
It was very clear to the committee that, whilst the community supported the urgent need for additional medical facilities in Canberra, the local community clinicians and healthcare consumers all had very reasonable concerns about the project. The majority of the evidence submitted noted concerns including development progressing in the absence of a precinct master plan, increased traffic, reduced access to parking and public transport, pedestrian and student safety, inadequate disability access, increased noise levels, the functional capacity of the proposed facilities, and the overt lack of consultation engagement. It was very evident to the committee that this community angst led to the petition that led to this inquiry.
The committee recognised very clearly the two competing realities within the SPIRE project. Firstly, there is an urgent need for additional medical facilities in Canberra, in particular at the only tertiary hospital in this area. Secondly, the local community clinicians and healthcare consumers have very reasonable concerns about the project. They very reasonably point out that the SPIRE project was started before there was a master plan for the precinct and it seems quite likely that there will be negative impacts on the surrounding community. This community angst led to the petition which led to this inquiry. The committee understands that the ACT government has made other responses in terms of improved planning and consultation.
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