VIDEO: A fly-though of the $130 million multi-storey South Burnett Health Precinct which will built at the corner of Glendon and Markwell streets in Kingaroy
January 25, 2024
Work on the $130 million health complex to be built on the site of the Lady Bjelke-Petersen Community Hospital in Kingaroy is expected to begin later this year.
This follows the unanimous approval of a Development Application at Wednesday’s South Burnett Regional Council meeting.
Councillors were told the project, which will be built in three stages, had passed all necessary planning procedures.
Wednesday’s meeting was the last time the Development Application could be considered before the council entered caretaker mode ahead of the March 16 local government elections.
Cr Danita Potter said she thought the health complex was a great project and she was very excited about it.
He only concern was that parking areas for staff and visitors would not be built until Stage 3 and was worried about where builders and staff could park until this happened.
Council officers said their own assessment was that 149 parking spots would be required during the early phases of construction; 42 of these spaces would be supplied by the developer, but the remainder would have to draw on other local options.
However, there would be some cross-utilisation of parking slots and officers estimated the real shortfall would likely be about 60 parking bays.
Acting Mayor Gavin Jones said this was a problem, but it would only be a temporary one.
“I would hate to think that a $130 million health facility could be hurt or hindered by something we could work around or get across,” he said.
Cr Scott Henschen agreed, saying there would always be parking shortages whenever any big development was under way but the benefits of the final project would far outweigh any temporary inconvenience.
Other Councillors agreed and the motion to approve the development was carried unanimously.
The centre, when completed, will include a residential care facility containing general care units, NDIS units, palliative care units and dementia care units, healthcare services, a hospital (including 42 short-term staff accommodation units, a café and florist) and a childcare centre with a capacity for up to 50 enrolments.
Footnote: SBRC CEO Mark Pitt PSM and Cr Kirstie Schumacher left the room while the Development Application was being discussed to avoid any perceived conflict of interest. Both sit on the South Burnett Community Hospital’s management board as Council representatives.
- Related article: Plans Unveiled For $130m Health Hub
Car parks – simple solution. Park on the nature strip on the no kerb and gutter side of Baron Street then walk through the town common to Glendon Street. A 2 minute walk to work should not be harmful – except maybe spring time when you need hardhats to keep out the aggressive magpies.
How about a coach to pick up construction workers from their various locations in the morning, and dropping them back at night?
Dig a deeper hole and put parking underneath. I noticed a lot of white markings on the road behind Woolies. Also, those trees down the middle of the road – hope they stay.