29 May 2025
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has today approved two State significant development applications for the extension of the existing Lake Macquarie Private Hospital. The hospital is located in Gateshead in the Lake Macquarie City Council Local Government Area. Ramsay Health Care Australia Pty Ltd (the Applicant) had sought approval for both development options.
The Lake Macquarie Private Hospital Extension (SSD-38025700) application is an extension to the existing hospital, including construction of a nine-level hospital expansion with 114 inpatient beds, additional theatres, consulting suites, emergency bays and parking.
The Lake Macquarie Private Hospital Tower (SSD-71941462) application is a smaller scale alternative to the expansion sought under SSD-38025700 and includes construction of a six-level health services facility with 40 additional inpatient beds, additional theatres, a medical imaging tenancy, and new hospital drop-off and pick-up area.
With both SSD applications approved, the applicant can select which option it will proceed with.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) completed its whole-of-government assessment of both applications in April 2025 and referred them to the NSW Independent Planning Commission for determination because the applicant had made a reportable political donation.
The three-member Commission Panel for both applications comprised Mr Terry Bailey (Chair), Ms Alex O’Mara and Mr Duncan Marshall AM. The Commission Panel met with key stakeholders, conducted a site inspection and locality tour and received one written submission commenting on both applications.
In its two Statements of Reasons for Decision (nine-level tower and six-level tower), the Commission found that either proposal represents “an orderly use of the site”, which currently houses an existing health services facility.
The Commission imposed conditions of development consent to address issues relating to traffic and parking, pedestrian safety and visual privacy. These include conditions that require the Applicant to:
- offer privacy mitigation measures to the properties considered most affected by development due to their proximity to the site, and allow identified landowners opposite the site on O’Brien Street or Casey Street to request additional visual mitigation;
- undertake additional pedestrian safety upgrades recommended by Council and Transport for NSW; and
- monitor the impact of on-site parking arrangements on nearby residential streets.
All documents relating to the assessment and determination of these proposals can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/cases/lake-macquarie-private-hospital.