RNSH land should be ‘healthcare only’
Willoughby Council is opposed to a proposal for commercial offices, residential buildings and retail shops on the Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) site.
The RNSH Campus master plan 2023- 2063 proposes redeveloping the southern campus of the hospital along Herbert Street. A proportion of the residential units would be allocated to health care workers and affordable housing.
Northern Sydney Local Health District board (NSLHD) endorsed the plan in October after a four-month consultation.
Willoughby councillor Georgie Roussac moved a motion in November, passed unanimously, that council lobby the State Government for RNSH land to be preserved only ‘for patient related public healthcare’. Bruce Cooper, treasurer of the RNSH Medical Staff Council, also spoke in favour of the motion at the meeting.
A spokesperson for NSLHD told North Shore Living that the plan was a ‘tool to guide decision-making over
the next 40 years’.
“It considers the campus’s capacity to meet forecast demand for clinical services, alongside demand for other non- clinical supporting services, that would support patients and staff, and visitors to the campus,” the spokesperson said.
Council head of planning Mitchell Noble stated in a report to council that a preliminary overview of the master plan was presented to council in July 2023. However, council was not notified that the plan was finalised in October, 2023.
Mr Noble said that given Willoughby’s population would increase, current health services could not expand to meet future needs under the master plan.
“We don’t agree (the development) should happen because the land needs to be set aside for medical services,” Mayor Taylor told NL.
Council will also ask for a community briefing on-site at RNSH so that locals and clinicians can comment on the proposed changes to RNSH under the revised master plan.
NSLHD and Willoughby Council were scheduled to meet to further discuss the plan at the time of writing. A report will be presented at council’s February meeting to summarise the master plan and its implications.
The master plan can be viewed on the North Sydney Local Health District website.