A proposed $99 million expansion of St John of God Murdoch Hospital includes construction of a five-storey mental health facility and a seven-level car park.
A proposed $99 million expansion of St John of God Murdoch Hospital includes construction of a five-storey mental health facility and a seven-level car park.
St John of God Health Care has submitted an application for a 72-bed facility and multi-level carpark to the state government’s State Development Assessment Unit pathway.
The organisation is seeking development approval from the Western Australian Planning Commission, with the expansion being advertised for public comment.
The proposed expansion for the Murdoch Drive facility is estimated to cost $98.6 million.
A development application was prepared by Planning Solutions on behalf of St John of God Health Care, with architectural designs by Whitehaus and Silver Thomas Hanley.
“The proposed mental health facility will provide specialised mental health services and treatments, complementing [sic] and adding to the services offered by the existing St John of God Murdoch hospital,” the application said.
“The proposed mental health facility will have its own dedicated workforce for the new facility and will provide for a range of employment opportunities.
“The facility will provide patient care 24 hours a day, seven days per week to inconsumers who require overnight accommodation.”
The proposed multi-level carpark at St John of God Murdoch expansion. Image: Whitehaus via SDAU
A portion of the development site is being used for vehicle parking.
The application said constructing the mental health facility would remove 249 car parking bays and building the multi-storey carpark would remove a further 130 bays.
An additional 13 car parking bays are expected to be lost for the proposed reinstatement of the internal ring road connecting Fiona Wood Road and Barry Marshall Parade.
However, the application said the proposed multi-level carpark comprises 826 car parking bays across the seven storeys.
St John of God Murdoch Hospital chief executive Ben Edwards previously said the facility would be the first of its kind in Western Australia.
“Currently, there are no private mental health facilities south of the river in the Perth metropolitan area, and there are no private facilities for youth anywhere in the state,” he said.
“There is a clear unmet need in our community for mental health programs.
“This facility will encompass a contemporary model of care and include day and overnight programs.”
