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Plans For Mater’s New Public Hospital In Springfield Central Unveiled

Artist’s impression of proposed hospital, on the corner of Mercy Ave & Health Care Drive (Photo credit: Ipswich City Council)

Mater Health Services has lodged its plans for a new public hospital in Springfield Central, which will cater to the increasing demand for public health services in the Greater Ipswich region.

Read: New Services, More Beds Part Of St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital’s Expansion

Mater Health Services plans to build the new structure at the same site as Mater Private Hospital Springfield on Health Care Drive.

First announced in May 2021, the proposed public hospital will take up about 2.6-ha of land in the area bounded by Mercy Ave, Health Care Dr, Nightingale Ave, and John Nugent Way.

Site of the proposed Mater public hospital

The new facility will feature two different building structures, a public hospital and an ancillary central energy plant.

The Mater Hospital Springfield Stage 2 will consist of a new 10-storey building (9 storeys and partial roof level) whilst the central energy plant building will serve as an ancillary, integrated central facility.

With plans to accommodate 152 beds, Stage 2 of the new hospital would also include an Intensive Care Unit, Maternity service, more procedural areas, and a much-needed Emergency Department which Mater Private Hospital currently does not have.

In addition to expanded private bed capacity and services in the region, the proposed hospital will also feature more interventional spaces, such as operating theatres and endoscopy suite, as well as increased clinical capability of the service, meaning more complex care can be treated locally.

mater-hospital-stage-2 — Plans (Photo credit: Ipswich City Council)

The proposed public hospital in Springfield Central is a partnership between Mater Health Services and the State Government. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the expansion of Mater’s private facility as a response to the public’s appeal for a new public hospital in the area.

Mater Health Services will privately fund the facility whilst the Stage Government will contribute $177 million for the care of public patients.

ipswich-hospital — Mercy Ave streetscape (Photo credit: Ipswich City Council)

“The Palaszczuk Government will fully fund the additional operational funding required for the new facility on an ongoing basis from its expected opening in 2024,” said Health Minister Yvette D’Ath.

Read: Australia’s Largest Animal Genomics Lab to Be Established in Ipswich

The project is also expected to bring in 700 jobs throughout construction and over 1,000 health jobs once it opens in late 2024. For more details about Mater Private Hospital’s expansion, see 20230/2021/ADP on the Ipswich City Council PD Online website.

Soon! Australia’s First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Facility in Greater Springfield

Photo credit: Queensland Government / https://statements.qld.gov.au

Did you know that Australia’s first hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing facility is set to commence construction in Greater Springfield in early 2022?

The $15-million manufacturing facility is a joint project between Australian energy technology company LAVO Hydrogen Technology Limited and fuel cells developer Nedstack.

It is one of the first projects to receive support from the State Government through its Invested in Queensland program, an initiative created under the $3.34-billion Queensland Jobs Fund.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said that the project will create up to 200 jobs during its construction, which is expected to be completed by end of 2022, plus nearly 170 operational jobs once the manufacturing facility steps up production by 2026.

He added that the partnership with LAVO is part of the State Government’s COVID recovery plan initiative to push Queensland forward to the next phase of economic growth.

“By supporting this sort of innovation and unlocking greater private investment, we expect to create 5000 jobs over the life of the Invested in Queensland program.

“We welcome LAVO to Queensland, and the new generation of employment opportunities this hydrogen manufacturing facility will bring to our state.”

CEO and Executive Director of LAVO Alan Yu said that the company was encouraged by the Government’s strong commitment to the development of the hydrogen industry and the support of Springfield City Group.

“We will be working to maximise the use of local suppliers in the manufacturing process and will be supplying both domestic and international markets across the residential, off-grid, telecommunications and commercial sectors,” Allan Yu said.

Apart from the fuel cell facility, LAVO also plans to invest in additional hydrogen-based powered units and other hydrogen components including electrolysers and hydride vessel production. The company expects to deliver all these expansion projects in Queensland by 2024.

The fuel cells produced in the manufacturing plant will be used in the LAVO HESS (Hydrogen Energy Storage System), the world’s first hydrogen energy storage system for homes and businesses which was developed by LAVO and the University of New South Wales.

The LAVO HESS is capable of providing power to a typical household that will last for two days by combining its integrated hybrid hydrogen battery component with rooftop solar to store up to 40kWh of electricity.

Bell Street Clean-Up in Ipswich Hailed as a Successful Community Effort

Great things can happen when people work together, something a group of volunteers proved after undertaking a community clean-up on Bell Street in Ipswich Central.

The community-led project, which started in late November 2021, was in response to a petition lodged with Ipswich City Council to “Fix Up Bell Steet.” Provisions were provided for the clean-up in partnership with Clean Up Australia Day and Council’s Ipswich Central Revitalisation Project.

More than 50 volunteers answered the call, which also saw Mayor Teresa Harding, as well as councillors Marnie Doyle, Andrew Fechner, and Kate Kunzelmann, grabbing some sponges and brushes to transform this gateway into a clean and sparkling commercial hub.

The precinct has now been scrubbed of graffiti and dirt, and then revitalised with fresh coats of paint, newly-sanded benches, disposal of rubbish, more plants on the ground, and heaps of planter boxes at the storefronts.

Cr Doyle hailed the initiative as a success. Cr Fechner, on the other hand, said that this was a “fabulous example” of commitment to the revitalisation project.

“As Bell Street is a key Ipswich Central thoroughfare and the entrance to our CBD for those arriving by train it was the ideal location for the Ipswich Central Partnership first initiative,” Cr Doyle said.

“While Council maintains Bell Street with regular cleaning and graffiti removal from footpaths and other council-owned property, the buildings on the east of the street are all state government assets or privately owned businesses.

“That’s why it’s vital that we work together to improve and maintain the streetscape.”

Meanwhile, Cr Doyle also confirmed that improvements to the awning at the train station on Bell Street are in the early planning stages. They are also in the middle of discussions with the Queensland Department of Natural Resources for the upgrades to the Bell Street Walkway.

Australia’s Largest Animal Genomics Lab to Be Established in Ipswich

Photo credit: The State of Queensland 1997–2021 (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) / https://statements.qld.gov.au

Australia’s largest and most advanced animal genomics lab will soon be established in Bundamba, creating an additional 25 high-skilled local jobs and helping farmers deliver the best quality produce and livestock.

Neogen Australasia is set to build an $11 million genomics centre in Bundamba where a University Queensland learning facility once stood. The new facility will be established with the State Government’s support through the Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund.

The genomic centre aims to consolidate Neogen Australasia’s operation in Queensland and will allow the company to more than double its testing capacity to up to a million tests per year. Neogen currently conducts around 35,000 genomic tests per month, apart from food diagnostic and biosecurity services they provide for the agribusiness sector.

Photo credit: Neogen Australasia / Facebook

“Neogen has become a genuine Queensland success story and a great example of a world-leading company investing in their future here in the Sunshine State,” Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said.

“In 2017 our government worked with the University of Queensland to attract US food safety giant Neogen Corporation to our state to set up a new Australian office at UQ’s Gatton campus.

“Neogen went on to established the largest livestock DNA testing lab in the country, backed by our Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund, and they currently employ 48 staff locally.

“Our government is now investing in this new facility, again through AQIAF, which will create 25 new jobs by 2027, and potentially more than 40 jobs over the next decade.”

Neogen Australasia Senior Director Bobby Creasman said that the new facility will allow new technologies and expanded food diagnostics to be offered across Australasia.

“Our future Bundamba facility will be at the forefront of ensuring greater accessibility of genomic tools at improved value to the cattle and sheep producer, while providing more information across the livestock production value chain,” concludes Mr Creasman.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner welcomed the announcement, adding that the new Bundamba facility will be a real asset for the State’s agricultural sector, specifically the beef industry.

“Our state offers some of the best produce and livestock in the world, and if we can take that quality even higher then it’s only going to deliver positives for the sector and our state,” Mr Furner said.

‘Call-in’ Announced For World-Class Wanless Recycling Park In Ipswich

Waste management company Wanless will be given an opportunity to demonstrate more about its proposed world-class resource recovery and recycling facility at Ebenezer in Ipswich, after a ‘call-in’ for the project was announced.

This comes after the proposed landfill at Wanless Recycling Park, part of the controversial $50-million development proposal at Ebenezer, was nixed.

Read: Proposal for New Landfill at Wanless Recycling Park Rejected

Calling in the project, according to Deputy Premier & Minister for Planning Steven Miles, will allow the state to do an assessment of Wanless Recycling Park and its ability to support Queensland’s waste reduction and recycling objectives.

Proposed Wanless Recycling Park structure plan (Photo credit: Wanless)

“The call in process will require Wanless to demonstrate that its facility will support the state’s goal of reducing waste to landfill and increasing reuse and recycling, and that the project can only be economically viable if all elements of the facility are approved,” said Mr Miles

Some of the things that will be considered during the proposed call in include:

Council of Mayors SEQ Waste Management Plan 2021
Finalisation of the review of the waste levy
Ipswich City Council’s request for a temporary local planning instrument (TLPI)

To ensure that the transport infrastructure in the area will be suitable for the recycling park, planning work for the Amberley Intersection upgrades is also currently underway.

Interested parties can make representations regarding the proposed call in until 21 December 2021. Submissions can be made by emailing ministerial.callin@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au.

About the Wanless Recycling Park

Located 12 km southwest of Ipswich CBD, the Wanless recycling park is a proposed resource recovery and recycling precinct at Ebenezer. Dubbed as a world-class resource recovery facility, the proposed park aims to address emerging issues in the South East Queensland (SEQ) waste industry.

The company’s vision is to transform the degraded site into a productive precinct that generates employment and training opportunities for the local community. The project takes inspiration from Sydney Recycling Park, where around 80% of waste is diverted from landfill.

Sydney Recycling Park is a fully comprehensive recycling facility where recoverable materials are screened, processed, treated and recovered for re-use locally. The facility processes up to 220,000 tonnes of waste per annum.

Wanless Recycling Park will accept waste from businesses and areas where it knows it can recover the most recyclable material. This will include household, commercial and industrial, and demolition and construction waste. The integrated facility will also include a landfill element for residual waste.

Springfield Lakes Residents Still Awaiting Repairs a Year After Halloween Hailstorm

Communities in Springfield Lakes and Ipswich are still rebuilding their homes — and putting their lives back together more than one year after a Halloween hailstorm battered and extensively damaged properties.

According to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), the catastrophe following the October 2020 hailstorm incurred more than $1.08 billion in damages and 44,000 claims, whilst 12 per cent or about 5,300 claims have yet to be finalised as of 31 October 2021.

Whilst property owners and insurers have had regular one-on-one consultations, through the help of ICA, the process of rebuilding has been marred by other challenges such as shortages in supplies of tiles and timber, the COVID-19 restrictions for constructions and movement of key personnels, and the availability of tradies.

“Recovery from the Halloween hailstorm has involved some challenges as it was the first major event to occur in a COVID-19 environment. As a result, some delays to repairs have occurred due to a shortage of appropriately licensed tradespeople and materials,” per the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA). The QRA has been assisting residents through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

In September 2021, the Ipswich City Council received data from the QRA citing an 86 per cent completed reconstruction. However, more than 20 houses still have severe damage whilst more than 200 still have minor or moderate damage.

Andrew Hall, the Insurance Council of Australia CEO, acknowledged that some homes have remained unlivable one year after the Halloween hailstorm but he also said that the insurers have been working hard and catching up on completing the claims.

Meanwhile, residents who have been displaced have been moving from one apartment or house several miles away from their homes. Some need to regularly drive back to Springfield Lakes, from their temporary residences, to check if the damages have not deteriorated further, especially when there are cyclones and flooding forecasts in the area.

Locals also expressed experiencing panic attacks or fear of buildings collapsing during bad weather. Since the Halloween hailstorm, every announcement of a severe storm warning has triggered stress and worries.

Apart from creating a task force to help residents go through the process of claims, Ipswich City Council has also tapped different groups with established mental health and resiliency programs for the community, especially the children.

Proposal for New Landfill at Wanless Recycling Park Rejected

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

A proposed landfill at Wanless Recycling Park, part of a controversial $50-million development proposal at Ebenezer, has been nixed.

Wanless Waste Management proposed to establish a landfill and waste transfer and recycling facility that would process up to a million tonnes of waste, with 550,000 tonnes of it ending up as landfill. Wanless said that the project will represent 150% of Ipswich’s per capita recycling quota and will result in a 4.1% recycling rate for the whole of Queensland.

Ipswich City Council supported the proposed waste transfer and recycling facility aspect of the Wanless Recycling Park proposal but decided to reject its landfill component. Council officers recommended the part-refusal of the landfill and partial rehabilitation of a mining void, along with part-approval of the reconfiguration of a lot and recycling centre components.

About 60 submissions have been lodged on the proposed project. Whilst many residents also approve of a recycling facility, most of them are not keen on having a new landfill site in the area citing environmental concerns.

“Our community expects the highest standards of scrutiny of any new landfill proposal in Ipswich, and rightly so,” Mayor Harding said. She said that the proposed project failed to meet the expectations and targets of the Council and the State Government.

“It is our residents who have worn the negative impacts of the waste industry time and time again,” she added.

“Worthy of support”

“Whilst disappointed with the decision of Ipswich City Council, we believe the Wanless Recycling Park is worthy of support, particularly as State government approval was received after a two-year exhaustive process,” Wanless Waste Management CEO Dean Wanless said.

“Council has proposed we export waste off-site, however this will result in generating more cars, trucks and general traffic on already congested roads,” he added. Wanless also mentioned that the Wanless Recycling Park “will provide a permanent protected area to ensure koalas can live safely and without disturbance,” apart from the 150 full-time union-backed employment opportunities that will be gained once the project is at full production.

Demand for New Single-Sex Schools Has Grown in Greater Springfield

Photo credit: https://www.greaterspringfield.com.au/

There is a growing demand for single-sex schools in the Greater Springfield area, mirroring a similar trend observed across the site, and development of facilities to meet the demand is expected to grow in the region.

Read: New Services, More Beds Part Of St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital’s Expansion

According to Independent Schools Queensland, there are already 22 single-sex schools in the State at present. Still, some of these schools receive inquiries at three times the rate of their current capacity.

Maha Sinnathamby, the entrepreneur behind the Greater Springfield development said Springfield’s expected population boom would see another 12 new schools built in the coming years, in addition to a new state school revealed in the State’s most recent budget.

Aerial view of Greater Springfield (Photo credit: https://www.greaterspringfield.com.au/)

Greater Springfield, Australia’s largest master-planned community, currently has 11 schools that cater for more than 11,000 school-aged students. But now that there are already more than 50,000 people in Springfield, which is expected to double in the next decade, more education facilities are needed in the area.

“With 11 schools currently accommodating our 11,000 school-aged students, at least 10 more will be required to accommodate the projected doubling of our school-aged population by 2036,” said Springfield City Group Education and Health Services director Meera Honan in a media statement.

Supporting this vision, Springfield general manager Richard Eden revealed there’s a capacity to add an all-boys school and an all-girls school to the educational institutions they already have.

“Springfield is a Learning City – where learning is valued and championed. We invite anyone who wants to share in that vision and aspiration to make contact with us,” stated on the website.

Push for Single-Sex Schooling

Photo credit: https://www.greaterspringfield.com.au/

In August 2021, Greater Springfield held the Virtual Think Tank on Single-Sex Schooling which attracted over one hundred participants from a wide background including 14 universities (Australian, and International), as well as schools from across Australia.

The panel discussed single-sex schooling from a range of angles anchored by the fundamental question of how important personalised education is for students learning in today’s world.

“Many factors drive parental choice including heritage, gender-specific intergeneration ideas and reputation. Social and demographic factors also impact and limit choice and/or access. Stereotypes in schools are reflected close to Australian society and this societal and parental messaging impacts upon career choices. Often very early, even in the primary years,” Greater Springfield stated.

The virtual think tank also pointed out the benefits of single-sex schooling, such as self-confidence for students, personalised learning, and inclusivity.

New Services, More Beds Part Of St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital’s Expansion

Photo credit: St Andrew's Ipswich Private Hospital

Ipswich’s only private hospital, St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital, is set to undergo a multi-million dollar makeover which will add new operating theatres, more beds and new services in two years time.

Read: Developer Presents Plans For Abandoned Blackstone State School In Ipswich

Ramsay Health Care, the current owners of St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital, has invested $40.5 million for the expansion, which will include an extra 39 beds, an expansion from 12 to 20 chairs for the renal dialysis unit, two new operating theatres, an expanded radiology practice, and expanded day rehabilitation space.

“We are so excited to announce this expansion because Ipswich is one of the fastest-growing areas in Australia so it makes sense that residents should be able to access the full suite of medical care close to home,” said the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Claire Thurwood.

Artist’s impression of St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital’s expansion (Photo credit: Ramsay Health Care)

“As well as expanding our private health care offerings, this project also allows us to broaden our renal dialysis unit for public patients, which means we can further support the West Moreton Health Service by almost doubling the number of patients treated for kidney disease,” Ms Thurwood said.

Read: Soon! Australia’s First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Facility in Greater Springfield

Just three years ago, the hospital increased the capacity of the hospital from 97 to 178 beds, launching a new front entrance, multi-deck car park, and new private rooms.

The hospital welcomed the new 231-bay car park in 2018, which provided convenient pedestrian and vehicle access to St Andrew’s new Front Reception and Day of Surgery Admissions area.

Meanwhile, construction on the new development is set to begin in late 2021 and is due for completion in June 2023.

Developer Presents Plans For Abandoned Blackstone State School In Ipswich

Photo credit: https://epathway.ipswich.qld.gov.au/

A developer is looking forward to transforming and breathing new life into the old Blackstone State School in Ipswich by constructing an emergency medical centre in its place.

Read: Affordable Growth: Springfield Lakes An Attractive Option for Young Families

Blackstone State School, located at 14 Hill St, has been left abandoned for around 12 years now. Three of the school buildings, built in 1886, 1889, and 1916, still exist and are listed as ‘character places’ in the Ipswich Planning Scheme.

Plans

Site plan (Photo credit: https://epathway.ipswich.qld.gov.au/)

Plans (14557/2021/MCU) lodged to Council revealed that the developer-applicant is seeking to repurpose the three existing heritage buildings and establish an after-hours medical centre on the 3.04-ha site.

One of the existing buildings at Blackstone State School (Photo credit: https://epathway.ipswich.qld.gov.au/)

Photo credit: https://epathway.ipswich.qld.gov.au/

If given the go-ahead, the heritage buildings will be transformed into an office, a 24/7 call centre, and treatment rooms, all of which are expected to be completed under Stage 1 of the development.

Stage 2 would be dedicated to the development of a “standard medical centre with allied health.” A total of 20 car parking spaces are to be provided on-site and accessed from the existing crossover.

“The proposed building works to the existing heritage buildings are minor in nature & generally necessary to refurbish the buildings. All proposed works are required to improve the functionality & condition of the existing buildings,” Urbicus notes in a town planning report for the applicant.

The development will be called Blackstone Urgent Care Centre. The out of hours urgent care would operate from 8:00 pm to 8:00 a.m. For more information about this proposed development, see 14557/2021/MCU.

About Blackstone State School

Students of Blackstone State School, circa 1900s (Photo credit: https://www.ipswichlibraries.com.au/)

Blackstone State School used to be one of the largest schools in the area. It was established in 1887 after the community agreed that it’s necessary for their children to receive an education closer to home. Back then, the nearest schools, Newtown School and Lower Bundanba School, could only be reached on horseback or through a long walk.

The school continued to operate for around 122 years before it was forced to close in 2009, when the Government conducted a $134-million education overhaul that resulted in the closure of a number of schools in Ipswich, including Blackstone State School.

Community members tried to save the school through an unsuccessful ‘The Save Blackstone School’ campaign. The school finally closed its doors to its students in December 2009.

Following its closure, the site was opened for use by some community groups. The 122-year-old school still holds deep Welsh roots in the small community of Blackstone. These groups were asked to vacate the space when it was listed on the market in 2013.