Cancer patients in South Western Sydney and the Southern Highlands will soon have access to the latest advancements in radiation oncology, medical oncology, and global clinical trials, with construction beginning on a new, world-class, $52 million integrated cancer centre in Campbelltown.
The new cancer centre will include medical oncology and radiation oncology services, medical imaging, pathology, a clinical trials unit and allied health services, all under the one roof. It is the result of a partnership between Campbelltown City Council, Australia's leading integrated cancer care provider - GenesisCare, Erilyan, and the owner of the site – the NorthWest-manged Vital Healthcare Property Trust. NorthWest is Australia's largest owner and manager of healthcare property, with Vital funding the cancer centre as the first stage of a leading healthcare precinct.
Today, local politicians, doctors, representatives from the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) and key community members are gathering on site for a sod-turning ceremony, to officially mark the commencement of construction.
Campbelltown Mayor, Cr. George Greiss, said "This development will expand the capacity of our local health and cancer care services, building upon the great work already being done in the public sector and increasing the availability of important treatments, therapies and global clinical trials.
"Increased local services will reduce the burden of travel on residents during what is an especially difficult and stressful time in their lives. This is a great investment for our city that will provide local high-value jobs in the heart of our city centre and ensure long-term financial returns on Council land that can be reinvested into our community," he said.
Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly comprise three of the top seven Sydney areas ranked by cancer incidence and three of the top six Sydney areas ranked by cancer mortality.
Fergus Rourke, GenesisCare's General Manager in NSW, said: "Campbelltown is one of Australia's fastest growing cities and over the last decade a huge amount of work has gone into futureproofing local healthcare services to accommodate for the growing population. Our integrated cancer centre will play a critical role in ensuring cancer patients from across South West Sydney and the Southern Highlands are able to receive rapid access to care, as well as participate in global clinical trials, closer to home."
"Globally, we are also seeing increased awareness and understanding of the importance of sustainability in healthcare infrastructure. We are incredibly proud of the fact that the new precinct and our integrated cancer centre has a 5 Star Green Star Rating."
Senior Vice President – Medical Precincts, NorthWest Healthcare Properties, Alex Belcastro, said: "Through our fund, Vital Healthcare Property Trust, we are thrilled to have acquired this ~28,000sqm site in South West Sydney, and to be developing it into a significant healthcare precinct alongside our partners – Campbelltown City Council and GenesisCare."
"A core expertise of NorthWest's business is in sourcing, planning and delivering market-leading healthcare precincts that service critical community needs on a large scale. The Campbelltown site, a high-profile site in a central location with proximity to Western Sydney University, the Campbelltown CBD and soon, the new cancer centre operated by GenesisCare, will maximise the value of the healthcare services offered to the broader community."
"This world-class cancer centre on 4,473sqm of the site is the important first phase of the development of a state-of-the-art healthcare precinct, and we very much look forward to combining leading health services including mental health, a day surgery, and consulting rooms, to deliver this significant precinct in the coming years."
Erilyan Director Karl Mayoh said: "Erilyan is thrilled to be delivering this state of the art, sustainable cancer care facility for our wonderful partners GenesisCare, NorthWest Healthcare Properties and Campbelltown City Council. The community of Campbelltown will experience a building that is usually reserved for the large-scale CBD healthcare precincts. Industry leaders GenesisCare and Northwest Healthcare Properties have made a commitment to the region which the incredible design of this green star facility reflects."
GenesisCare's integrated cancer centre will be located in Campbelltown's new cutting-edge health precinct owned by NorthWest Healthcare Properties through their NZX-listed fund, Vital Healthcare Property Trust. The precinct is surrounded by green open spaces such as Koshigaya Park and is conveniently located close to Narellan Road and the M5, creating ease of access for patients travelling to and from the centre from the wider region.
More than 750 local sub-contractors will be employed during the construction phase of the project, and once open, the service will create 60 high-quality long-term healthcare jobs. The centre will have the capacity to deliver more than 30,000 treatments annually.
