Discussion: Development of Adelaide Railyards

[Cruise]

Anyone remember this?

My Gosh.. that looks absolutely awesome. Reminds me of Brisbane with all the high rises upon the river bed.

Yeah, it would be awesome if the Torrens was that wide...... and blue.....

[bm7500]

Anyone remember this?

My Gosh.. that looks absolutely awesome. Reminds me of Brisbane with all the high rises upon the river bed.

Yeah, it would be awesome if the Torrens was that wide...... and blue.....

This is EXACTLY what this area needs!!!!

The only problem is that it would never be approved in that form as the height of the buildings in that location would compromise the PANS-OPS of Adelaide Airport

[Wayno]

The only problem is that it would never be approved in that form as the height of the buildings in that location would compromise the PANS-OPS of Adelaide Airport

so the rumour goes - that's why we've asked the ACC to demystify such "facts"...

[Brando]

The wheels are starting to fall off...

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

Doctors blast 'mad Marj' plan

EMINENT medical specialists have launched a campaign to save the Royal Adelaide Hospital, saying the city does not need the planned $1.7 billion Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital.

A group of respected senior doctors who have spent the past year "brooding and alarmed" have decided to go public with their opposition and have formed a committee dedicated to saving the RAH from being bulldozed.
"We want genuine discussion about whether the RAH really needs to be closed," spokesman Dr James Katsaros said yesterday.

"We have a responsibility to look at whether we are making a terrible mistake in spending $1.7 billion on something that is not needed while erasing an iconic institution.

". . . as senior members of the medical community we came to the view that if we did not stand up against this lunancy, no one would.

"We have been brooding on this for a long time, whispering in corridors and over coffees about the madness of the plan, which was announced without consultation with the medical community."

The "Save the RAH Medical Committee" says the state does not need a new hospital and the RAH's patient accommodation could be upgraded for far less than the Marj's ballooning $1.7bn cost – and the work completed far earlier than the Marj's 12-year time frame.

The Save the RAH group includes leading and retired orthopaedic surgeons, cardiologists, plastic surgeons, oncologists and pathologists, as well as people who have held representative positions such as Australian Medical Association office holders.

Members so far include Dr Peter Hetzel, Dr John Sangster, Dr Daryl Teague, Dr Francis Ghan, Dr Randall Sach, Dr Peter Malycha, Dr Philip Harding and Dr Katsaros.

The committee is holding a meeting for the medical fraternity at the RAH on March 16 to discuss the issues and see if there is genuine support for the new hospital.

If the meeting shows a lack of support for the Marj, the committee will widen the debate to public meetings. The key concerns of the Save the RAH group include:

A LACK of consultation by the State Government with the medical community or the AMA before the plan was announced;

A LACK of convincing arguments in favour of building the Marj;

MISINFORMATION about the state of the RAH, which they say has been substantially upgraded in recent years;

DESTRUCTION of the close working relationship between the RAH, Adelaide University Medical School, Hanson Institute and Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, which are all on the one city campus;

ABOLITION of the brand name "Royal Adelaide Hospital" – world famous within medical circles.

Dr Katsaros, committee chairman and director of the plastic and reconstructive surgery at the RAH, said the group represented conservative people who otherwise would not want to be caught in a political row.

"There was no review to see if it was actually needed, no public debate, just an announcement," he said. "We have been alarmed ever since the announcement was suddenly made and the discussions among doctors have been ones of alarm and incredulity.

"Being conservative, it has taken a while to band together and go public, but we have to show leadership and generate genuine discussion about whether we need a new hospital.

"While we as senior doctors feel we must stand up, we also have the support of many junior staff as well as nurses and allied health workers who believe the RAH should be retained.

"I believe we do not need a new hospital at all; but if the overwhelming view of the medical community after we have discussions is that we do need one, then we will say `so be it' and move on."

Dr Katsaros noted the RAH was world respected, both in facilities and in name that also promoted the city.

"The RAH has a brand new emergency (department), which is state-of-the-art, an intensive care area the envy of most hospitals, a world-class burns unit, modern dialysis unit and so on," he said.

"Every hospital has to start planning upgrades virtually as soon as they are built, but the RAH right now is at a point where the most urgent thing is a new patient accommodation wing.

"That could be built for around $300 million, rather than $1.7 billion, and could be completed in a couple of years rather than waiting 12 years."

The committee will meet AMA officials this week with a request it notify members of the March 16 meeting in the hope of having the largest possible number of the medical fraternity on hand to voice their opinions about whether a new hospital is needed.

Dr Katsaros said the Marj announcement came without any review into whether it was needed.

"The existing institution can be refurbished and rejuvenated, as was done in the 1960s when a larger RAH was rebuilt on site without major problems," he said.

Dr Katsaros emphasised the RAH name was a respected and valuable brand name for SA.

"Can you imagine the folk in Minnesota bulldozing the Mayo Clinic and building the Michael Jordan Hospital 1km away?" he said. "They'd be a laughing stock."

[Howie]

Word around the traps is, it's not going to go ahead.

[Shuz]

I knew it all along! It was just all too evident.

Should the RAH be upgraded for $300m insteead of the $1.7bn Marj?

Yes
79% (717 votes)
No
20% (187 votes)
Total votes
Total of 904 votes

[Xaragmata]

I saw the notice in the RAH last week, & forgot to follow it up. The blog for Save the RAH is at
http://savetherah.blogspot.com/

I'm not particularly opposed to a new hospital, but I've never been convinced that the Government was
serious about it, and will push it off the table.

[Cruise]

Wow, the 1.4 billion cost difference could go a long way on other projects, Such as the half arsed upgrade of football park or fast tracking rail electrification.

[crawf]

If the RAH was saved, it will need alot more than $300 to redevelop it.

I still would like to see it relocated to Bowden or Keswick, the RAH site has major potential to become a education/tourism hot spot.

[Mants]

the RAH should be renovated regardless.

12 years to build the Marj...12 more years of dilapidation at the current site.

not good enough, sorry.

[Norman]

the RAH should be renovated regardless.

12 years to build the Marj...12 more years of dilapidation at the current site.

not good enough, sorry.

I think the $1.7b includes a few millions keeping the RAH up.

[skyliner]

Word around the traps is, it's not going to go ahead.

This is what was told to me by my brother (a Chief Financial Controller in adelaide) near the end of last year. Not sad about this - esp in location concerned. Interesting news from doctors of RAH - not really surprised. BTW - the RAH would not need 1.7Bn to fix up - maybe this is a factor in the overall picture.

I heard today on the news that SA and TAS would be least affected by the oncoming financial problem - NSW already in recession, WA and QLD rapidly following. Finacial availability another factor in the issue.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[Howie]

Word around the traps is, it's not going to go ahead.

This is what was told to me by my brother (a Chief Financial Controller in adelaide) near the end of last year.

Adds more weight to what i've heard.

There was a halt on all new building works (upgrades, refits, etc) in the RAH while this mess has been sorted out. Now they've been allowed to continue... looks like they reckon RAH's going to be here for a while otherwise you wouldn't blow more money on a building that's due for demolition.

Of course there is a slim chance it will go ahead, if the government push hard enough even without the support of the medical establishment and workers. It's not going to be popular for them if they do though.

[nimeton]

News Release
Hon John Hill
Minister for Health
Minister for the Southern Suburbs
Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts
Wednesday, 4 February 2009

WORK UNDERWAY ON SITE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S NEW HOSPITAL

Work is underway to conduct a geological survey and prepare for a rigorous clean-up of the site for the new 800-bed Marjorie Jackson Nelson Hospital (MJNH).
Health Minister John Hill said today that the work is part of the planned rehabilitation of the current Adelaide Rail Yards in the city’s west.
Construction of the MJNH is expected to create well over 10,000 direct jobs and around 12,000 indirect jobs.
“The disused Rail Yards need cleaning up and this operation is the first major activity on the site and a key step towards making it ready for the start of construction work next year.”
“The clean-up works build on the extensive site testing that’s already been done – multiple bore holes have already been dug across the site to assess the extent of any contamination.
“Most of the contaminants appear to typical of what is found in old rail yards
“A pilot plant will be installed to suck up groundwater contaminated by diesel near the workshop area and determine the best way of dealing with it.” Minister Hill said.
Work has also started this week on surveying the underlying rock in the area to help with planning for the construction.
One of SA’s largest specialist environmental consulting organisations, Coffey Environments Pty Ltd, has been engaged by the SA Health Department to carry out the work..
Meanwhile, Baulderstone has been appointed as the managing contractor for the rail car depot’s relocation to Dry Creek. Work is expected to start on the relocation by March this year.

Notes for Editor:
The MJNH will be Australia’s most progressive and state-of-the-art hospital.
The new hospital will have almost 20% more beds (800) than the current Royal Adelaide Hospital (680).
The site was chosen after a thorough investigation of available land across the CBD, and environmental rehabilitation issues were also taken into account. This included an allowance in the project budget to rehabilitate the site.
In fact, one of the reasons for selecting this site is the unique opportunity the development provides to rehabilitate land that has been used for more than 100 years as a rail yard.
As well as space for the new hospital, land will also be returned to open space and the development will open up that site to the River Torrens, giving patients, staff and visitors access to the riverbank.
The MJNH Master Plan can be accessed via www.health.sa.gov.au or by contacting 1800 643 854.

[Wayno]

The site was chosen after a thorough investigation of available land across the CBD...

so there's no land outside the CBD? *sigh*