A State-significant proposal to expand Lake Macquarie Private Hospital at Gateshead marks the
first step towards creating a next-generation health precinct for the Hunter Region.
The planning proposal from Ramsay Health, which goes on public exhibition today, outlines a
blueprint to rezone the site and increase height limits from 10m to 37m at its northern end to
allow for a 10-storey hospital building.
The new tower would house surgery theatres, ward beds, car parking and consulting suites,
alleviating the strain on the existing 187-bed facility, which runs at or near capacity most of
the time.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the planning proposal and proposed rezoning of the site from
medium density residential to infrastructure (health services facilities) paved the way for a
larger transformation in years to come. “A cluster of state-of-the-art medical facilities and
services at Gateshead, including Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, would create an expanded,
regionally significant health precinct for our city,” she said. “These services will be
increasingly important as our population ages and increases, and will create new jobs, increase
skills and generate flow-on benefits for our local economy.”
The proposal aligns with the Hunter Regional Plan 2036 and the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan
Plan 2036, which both earmark the area for a regionally significant health precinct.
Ramsay initially considered increasing height limits across the whole hospital site, but limited
it to the northern section to minimise disruption. If it proceeds, the hospital expansion is
expected to create 800-1000 direct and flow-on jobs during construction, and almost 200 once
complete.
Lake Macquarie Private Hospital CEO Sharon Rewitt said the development proposal was the result of
more than five years of planning.“On completion, the improved hospital will offer 248 private
inpatient beds, 14 operating theatres, three cardiac catheter labs, plus hybrid and vascular
labs,” she said. “Critical care, intensive care and an enhanced 24-hour emergency department,
radiology and oncology services will also be provided.”
Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Integrated Planning Wes Hain said a broader precinct plan
would be developed in 2023 to identify car parking, public transport and other services and
infrastructure needed to meet the precinct’s future demands. “It will also provide controls for
private development and address other public domain improvements,” he said.
Council will consider feedback collected during the exhibition period before making a decision on
the planning proposal early next year. If approved, the proposal will proceed to the NSW
Government, where it will be lodged as a State-significant development application.
Ms Rewitt said the expansion would roll out across five stages, hopefully to be completed in
2027. “The development is focused on careful expansion and we look forward to growing with the
community,” she said.