A new specialist medical centre is set to begin construction in January across from Queensland’s largest private hospital, following a recent Supreme Court decision that dismissed an appeal from Ramsay Health Care Australia. The owner of Greenslopes Private Hospital, Ramsay sought to halt the development of the medical centre at 68-72 Hunter Street, Greenslopes, but the court ruled against them this week.
This legal battle began after Ramsay lost an earlier case in the Planning and Environment Court last year. The Supreme Court’s ruling confirmed the previous decision, allowing the new medical facility to proceed as planned. Chief Justice Helen Bowskill, along with Justices Sue Brown and Thomas Bradley, concluded that the appeal did not demonstrate any legal errors made by the initial judge.
In her published ruling, Justice Bowskill stated, “No mistakes or errors in law have been shown to have been made by the primary judge.” She further added, “I would refuse leave to appeal, with costs.”
At the heart of the appeal was a debate over the term “complementary,” as outlined in the Brisbane City Plan. According to this plan, new developments in the area are required to offer “a mix of centre and community activities that is complementary to the Greenslopes Private Hospital.” However, the specifics of what constitutes “complementary” were not clearly defined.
Justice Bowskill clarified that evidence presented during the initial case indicated that, from a town planning perspective, “complementary” refers to uses that support one another. This interpretation was pivotal in the court’s decision to allow the medical centre to move forward.
The proposed medical centre is expected to enhance healthcare options in the Greenslopes area, potentially providing a range of specialist services that align with the community’s needs.
With construction expected to commence imminently, local stakeholders and residents are closely watching the developments. The court’s ruling marks a significant step in the ongoing evolution of medical services in the region.
