Red tape has held up the final go-ahead for a $17.6 million new medical building connected to St George Private Hospital in Kogarah.
The proposal by AME Properties, a subsidiary of Ramsay Health Care, for the construction of a six-storey health service building of specialist consulting rooms at 131 Princes Highway was approved in March.
But the developer also wanted to build a 20-metre long air bridge or elevated walkway linking the proposed building to St George Private Hospital at 1a South Street.
The developer previously told the council the air bridge connection over South Street would create a new gateway to the St George Hospital precinct and campus which includes St George Public Hospital.
The development was approved by the Sydney South Planning Panel except for the proposal for the elevated walkway across South Street.
“The proponent did not make a clear and convincing case for the overhead bridge as part of this development,” the planning panel said.
“So the proposal is approved subject to the deletion of the overhead bridge.”
But the panel’s decision approving the new building was declared null and void due to a potential “conflict of interest”.
Two of the planning panel members, Georges River councillors Nick Katris and Con Hindi had at the December council meeting voted, along with all other councillors, to endorse the minutes of the council’s finance and governance committee which approved the grant of a 50 year lease to AME for a proposed air bridge over South Street.
The lease for the proposed air bridge within the development proposal in December 2017 was considered to be a related matter and therefore a conflict.
“We are not on that committee and so we did not deliberate other than voting on approving the minutes in full,” Cr Hindi said.
“We believe the oversight occurred as we did not consider that voting on the granting of a property lease (air rights) by council to the DA applicant a few months earlier was considered to be “a related matter,” Cr Hindi said.
“The council’s general manager (Gail Connolly) has written to the Department of Planning requesting the department provide clarification on the definition of what is a related matter.
“Specifically, we have given them seven scenarios that a councillor may encounter and for the department to make a determination whether or not there is conflict of interest.
“We have asked the department to write to all the panel members to provide them with examples so there is no misunderstanding.
“It has also come to my attention that neighbouring councils have voted on similar matters with the belief they have no conflict of interest and this is why we have asked the depart to publish clear guidelines with examples of constitutes a conflict of interest.
“I am aware that since the Planning Panel originally considered the development application in March 2018, Ramsay Healthcare has taken the opportunity to lodge amended plans and additional information which is currently on public exhibition until May 23, 2018. Following the close of the public exhibition period I understand that the development application will be returned to the Planning Panel (comprising different members) in July 2018 for consideration.”
At the planning panel meeting Crs Katris and Hindi voted against the application because they did not believe the proponent had established any compelling grounds to allowance a requested nine per cent increase in floor space ratio.
They considered the overhead bridge was unsightly and inappropriate in the location.
The panel said the proposal is considered to reinforce Kogarah as a key health and educational precinct.
Ramsay has advised the council that the hospital has reached development capacity and that it needs to expand across South Street in order to meet the growing demand for medical facilities to service the greater St George Region.
“The air bridge would facilitate the development of new, state-of-the-art saleable/leasable areas to attract specialist health services, significantly improving access to quality health services in the area,” Ramsay told the council.
“Without facilities to attract doctors or specialists to buy suites or take leases, access to quality and diversified health services will become increasingly more difficult for residents.”
A spokeswoman for Ramsay Health Care said the company lodged a Development Application in August 2017, seeking consent for the demolition of existing structures and the construction and a new Specialist Centre with a pedestrian air bridge to St George Private Hospital, over South Street.
“Ramsay are excited to continue investing in the Kogarah Health and Education Super Precinct, of which St George Private Hospital plays a pivotal role in medical and surgical services,” she said.
“This project will secure an excellent pool of established and developing doctors for the public and private hospital in the Precinct. The Specialist Centre will facilitate new medical tenancies such as medical consulting, day services and primary health care services, which will be a welcome and much needed addition to the Precinct.
“The proposal was considered at the South Planning Panel on March, 13 2018. Further to this meeting, Ramsay took the opportunity to submit an addendum to Council in regards to minor clarifications. The hospital are looking forward to presenting to the Panel in June 2018 and have been encouraged by the ongoing support of the community and Georges River Council.”
