AN outdoor training area and “contemplative garden” will be part of the $16 million revamp of Osborne Park Hospital.
Plans for the expansion and upgrade were today approved by the Metro North-West Development Assessment Panel and provide detail of the proposed maternity and neonatal units, therapy hub and garden, and rehabilitation ward.
The maternity and nursery units will be additions to the existing maternity ward, providing four private rooms and three chair bays, and six cot bays respectively.
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READ NOWThe existing rehabilitation wards is being expanded to accommodate 16 beds along with a patient lounge, dining room and kitchenette.
There are also plans for a therapy hub comprising three gyms, including separate facilities for outpatients and inpatients, consulting and treatment rooms.
Outside this will be a therapy garden where patients can work on their rehabilitation outdoors and enjoy a space to relax.
A ‘backyard’ within this provides a garden shed, letterbox, gate, clothesline and vegetable planter, and patients can also make use of the contemplative garden with “sensory planting, water feature and seating”.
In approving the design, acting specialist member Peter Keleman said it was a “sensitive development” with minimal impact on the surrounding area and the removal of about 25 trees to accommodate it would be offset by the proposed landscaping.
Stirling councillor Giovanni Italiano said the development was “well overdue” and presiding member Karen Hyde said it was excellent the hospital could remain in an urban area.
The State and Federal governments have allocated $24.9 million to the redevelopment.
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