To help the state cope with the rising rate of mental health illness cases across NSW, the developers of the Northern Beaches Health Hub at Frenchs Forest have applied for a rapid assessment of the planned facility.
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CK Property Group, the firm behind the $50 million facility, has applied for a “rapid assessment” of the application through the NSW Government’s State Significant Development process.
Based on a report from NSW Suicide Monitoring System, there have been 833 suspected or confirmed suicide deaths reported in the State from 1 January to 30 November 2021.
“Immediate and urgent approval is needed for the development of the new mental health facility addressing increasing rates of suicide, self-harm and mental health conditions in the Northern Beaches area,” Northern Beaches Health Hub stated in a Change.org petition, urging the public to support the urgent approval of a new mental health hospital in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Plans
CK Property Group is seeking a 96-bed private mental health hospitalm, which “will slow increasing local rates of suicide and self-harm, especially among young people.”
The applicant highlighted that the Northern Beaches is particularly at risk with data indicating a shortfall of up to 145 acute mental health beds.
Ground Level Floor Plan (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Health Hub)
Level 1 floor plan (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Health Hub)
Level 2-6 Typical Floor Plan (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Health Hub)
Level 7 Floor Plan (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Health Hub)
Once approved, it will provide up to 80 private patient rooms with ensuite, a rooftop garden; ground floor cafe, gym; protected healing garden, and reflective sitting nooks. It will feature three levels of basement parking accommodating 72 car spaces.
The new mental health facility is located in close proximity to the strategic Frenchs Forest Health and Education Precinct and Northern Beaches Hospital.
Photo credit: Northern Beaches Health Hub
It will employ around 175 people during construction and a further 180 once in full operation. Construction is set to start mid- 2023 with completion shortly thereafter.