Green light for Vasse hospital

A $70 million hospital will be constructed in the Vasse Town Centre to meet the health care demands from the Busselton and Margaret River communities.

The Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel has unanimously approved St John of God Health Care's application to build a day hospital on a 1.3-hectare lot along Napoleon Promenade, at its meeting today.

St John of God's proposed Vasse hospital comprises of a 23-hour day surgery with three operating theatres, a dialysis and oncology unit, a pharmacy, allied health oepartions, five commercial tenancies, a cafe at the front entrance, and a 168-bay carpark.

The not-for-profit health care group has partnered with Blackoak Capital to deliver the development.

The development application prepared by Hatch RobertsDay listed the cost of the hospital as $40 million, but Business News understands the project has an estimated end value of $70 million.

St John of God Bunbury Hospital chief executive Jeffrey Williams said the site was chosen to be accessible for patients from Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River regions.

“Patients in the South West will benefit from this health service because they won’t have to drive to Bunbury or Perth for their healthcare needs,” he said.

“Quite a bit of planning has gone into the site.

“We identified a need to deliver care closer to home.”

The proposed hospital will be built opposite the Vasse by Bunbury Farmers Market, which was approved earlier this year.

The City of Busselton supported the proposed hospital, despite some initial concerns of an easement potentially causing traffic issues in the town centre.

“This project will deliver significant benefits for the City’s economy both during its construction and once in operation, unlocking many local jobs," Busselton mayor Grant Henley said after the JDAP meeting.

“Complemented by the construction of the Bunbury Markets, this hospital development will only further enhance Vasse that is fast becoming a much sought after growth centre in the city of Busselton and the south west.”

According to the Hatch RobertsDay's application, the facility would move and replicate services from the South-West Health Campus in Bunbury for the local community to access private health facilities.

"It will also provide a centre of employment in the City of Busselton and the wider south west region through the construction and operation phases," the application said.

The site is owned by the development arm of property investment company Perron Group and Security Capital Australia investment syndicate Stawell.