PLANNING Minister Mick Gentleman has used “call-in” powers to get the hospital extension’s development application approved, bringing to an end any community opposition to the plan. 

By using call-in powers, Mr Gentleman has steamrolled over the community consultation process to begin construction for the Emergency Surgical and Critical Healthcare building — an expansion to Canberra Hospital.

In making the announcement, Mr Gentleman said he wanted to ensure the Canberra Hospital expansion stays on schedule.

He said he believed that the development application had already undergone a thorough assessment process.

“I carefully considered the nine submissions and feedback raised by the community and have placed conditions on the development that must be addressed before construction begins,” he said.

“Conditions include a revised configuration for Hospital Road North and a long-term parking plan to ensure hospital users, staff and local residents can easily access the expanded hospital campus.

“In addition to the new building works, the approval covers the closure and reconfiguration of Hospital Road, reconfiguration of the existing emergency drop-off and construction of new car parking.”

Health Minister Rachel-Stephen Smith agreed with Mr Gentleman, saying the government had spent more than 18 months refining the design of the Critical Services Building to reflect the feedback from their ongoing consultations with hospital users, clinicians, families, carers and local residents.

“More than 250 user group workshops have been held with clinicians while local community and consumer reference groups have been meeting regularly and will continue to do so throughout construction,” she said.

Shadow health minister Giulia Jones said the Canberra Liberals supports the expansion of the Canberra Hospital.

However, she questioned the last-minute use of call-in powers to approve the expansion when it was promised to Canberrans more than a decade ago.

“If this Labor-Greens government had actually built the hospital when it was promised, they would not need to use call in powers to hurry it along,” she said.

“We have continually called on the government to expand Canberra Hospital. The failure of this government to do so for over a decade has led to the longest ED wait times in the country and thousands of Canberrans languishing on surgery waiting lists.

“The government must now get on with the job and deliver what they promised over 10 years ago to the Canberra public.”