Kiama councillors have knocked back the development application for a second medical centre in the area, planned for Gerringong.
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All seven councillors unanimously rejected the application, after hearing from the developer, at a recent council meeting.
Councillor Matt Brown declared he could not be swayed to support the development.
“It’s not in the public interest,” he said.
“It would undermine viability of existing medical practices. It’s not easily-accessible to patients.”
The application was formally rejected due to zoning reasons. The land is zoned R3 for medium density housing such as townhouses, villas and residential flats.
Earlier, the Shellharbour developer argued there was demand for more medical services in Gerringong.
“On our books in Shellharbour we have nearly 100 patients from Gerringong,” Dr George Albert said.
“At Shellharbour we have a 600sqm building but we have run out of room.”
The proposal was to build a new medical facility on the corner of Jupiter Street and Coal Street.
Dr Albert developed Shellharbour Medical Centre in College Avenue almost a decade ago after moving from Dubbo where he had a surgery. But the Shellharbour practice is operating near capacity and he has been looking to expand for several years.
“It would undermine viability of existing medical practices. It’s not easily-accessible to patients.”
- _ Cr Matt Brown
Dr Albert is Clinical associate professor at University of Wollongong’s Graduate School of Medicine and said through his commitment to training students with it and at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners he had observed a huge need for training and teaching positions in towns such as Gerringong. He said there is also a big demand for medical services.
Dr Albert said so many patients from Gerringong were making the trip to Shellharbour he thought why not open a second facility that will create more opportunities for training.
“On our books in Shellharbour we have nearly 100 patients from Gerringong. At Shellharbour we have a 600sqm building but we have run out of room,” he said.