Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
This week’s State of the State Address demonstrates that the Tasmanian Liberal Government is building the essential health infrastructure needed to support the delivery of health services to the Tasmanian community, now and into the future.
This includes our $20.7 million commitment to the new St John’s Park mental health facility and the redevelopment of the Peacock Centre, which together will provide 27 new mental health short-term recovery beds in the community.
Today, the Government released the artist’s impressions of the new St John’s Park facility in New Town, which will include 15 short-term recovery beds and an Integration Hub bringing together a range of care and support services.
The Australian Government is providing $10 million for the development of the Tasmanian Eating Disorder Service also based at the St John’s Park site, which will include a residential component and day and evening programs.
This week, a Development Application for St John’s Park will be lodged with the City of Hobart Council and the project is being considered by the Public Works Committee in May.
The project is expected to be tendered in the second half of this year, with construction anticipated to commence by the end of the year and be completed early in 2024.
The new St John’s Park facility will complement the redevelopment of the Peacock Centre, where work has recently re-commenced following a fire at that site late last year.
Completion of the Peacock Centre building works is forecast for November 2022, with the opening of the facility planned for December 2022, providing 12 short-term recovery beds and an Integration Hub.
We have also committed $120 million to build two new all ages Mental Health Services precincts in the North and North West of the State.
These new, purpose-built precincts will co-locate community and inpatient mental health services at the North West Regional Hospital and the Launceston General Hospital.
We continue to recruit additional staff across the State, and we know that providing contemporary health facilities also assists with the attraction and retention of health professionals.
As a Government, we are excited to be progressing these much-needed developments that will help to ensure seamless integration between inpatient mental health care and community-based services.
