Frequently asked questions
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Q. Why is the Government building a new hospital?
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The Government understands that children's health care is changing. To preserve the hospital’s outstanding reputation into the future, and to better support modern approaches to the provision of high quality medical care and leading research, the State believes it is now time for the Royal Children’s Hospital to be rebuilt. RCH is recognised for providing world-class health care and in 2011, it will have a world class building as well.
To realise this vision, in May 2005 the Victorian Premier and the Minister for Health announced that a new Royal Children’s Hospital would be built for the children of Victoria.
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Q. Has the recent volatility in financial markets affected the new RCH project?
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All of the funds required for the project have already been subscribed and accordingly, the recent deteroriation in local and international financial markets will not affect the delivery of the new RCH or increase the State’s financial exposure to the project.
Although recent articles in the press have highlighted Standard and Poors’ downgrading of the credit rating of FGIC, the project’s monoline insurer*, this downgrading is entirely a matter for FGIC and the holders of the bonds there were issued to finance the project. It does not increase or reflect any increase in the risks associated with the delivery of the project or the likelihood of project failure.
All payments by the State in relation to the project are fixed (subject only to CPI adjustments) and the State is not liable to compensate bondholders for any loss that may result from the credit downgrading of FGIC.
*A monoline insurer is a financial institution that writes insurance policies that commit to pay interest and capital to bondholders in the event a bond issuer fails to do so.
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Q. Where is the site for the new hospital?
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The site for the new hospital is immediately to the west of the existing site, in Royal Park, Parkville.
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Q. Why was this site selected?
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The site for the new hospital was selected after considering a range of factors including the site’s availability, size, cost, accessibility, construction impact and community feedback. The site, surrounded by parkland, was selected as one that best meets the needs of sick children and their families - parkland provides one of the most powerful forces in lifting a child’s morale and helping them feel better.
By keeping the hospital in Parkville, it will continue to be surrounded by Victoria’s largest medical research and technology precinct, giving our children access to the latest knowledge, equipment and the best possible treatment.
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The process for selecting the site for the new RCH took almost a year. It involved technical analysis, comparison and feasibility studies of 14 different site options, and extensive consultation with the community and other stakeholders during 2005. Four public expos were held, and over 650 people responded via feedback forms, focus groups or online surveys. The following groups were specifically involved in the consultation process:
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· Families and carers
· Health service providers
· Peak health support organisations
· Local residents
· Benefactors
· Friends of Royal Park
· RCH partners
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Q. Will the new RCH be co-located with maternity?
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No. The Royal Children’s Hospital is a stand-alone facility.
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Q. Will the new RCH be privatised?
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The fact that the project is being conducted as a PPP does not mean that the hospital is being privatised. The hospital will continue to be owned and operated in exactly the same manner as exists today. The only difference under a PPP model is that the State is outsourcing the responsibility for the design and construction of the new hospital, as well as maintenance of the facility for a period of 25 years. The hospital however will continue at all times to be owned and operated by RCH.
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Q. How has the design of the new hospital been created?
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The design of the new RCH is based on the outcomes of extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders via many forums. Stakeholders consulted include staff, the local community, architects and patients and families.
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A large part of the consultation took place through a service and master planning process from 2003-2005. In 2006 an RCH hospital-wide models of care project enabled the hospital to understand, in more intimate detail, how it might function from 2011. This process helped determine the spaces required in the new hospital.
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Over 150 staff from a variety of areas were involved in the models of care project and this informed much of the functional brief. The functional brief provided information to the architects and engineers who have designed the new RCH and plan the hospital space. Three private sector consortia tendered for the new hospital project and many RCH staff were involved in an extensive bid review process, after which the Children’s Health Partnership consortium has been selected as our private sector partner.
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Q. What will the new hospital look like?
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The new hospital will be located immediately to the west of the existing site.
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The building’s external façade has been designed with the park environment in mind, reflecting shapes and colours from nature and the trees that will surround it. It will take full advantage of its park location.
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The glazed sun shading or ‘natural leaf elements’ will reflect the vegetation of Royal Park and, unlike the existing hospital designed in the 1950s, the new building will take full advantage of its location.
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Just as every Victorian town has a main street, so too will the new RCH. ‘The Street’ will be the main public thoroughfare from the Flemington Road entry through to Royal Park. All outpatient services, food and amenities will be located off the main street and the street will link into the inpatient building and out to the park. Colour and floor patterns will be used to help people of all cultures and backgrounds find their way. A coral reef aquarium will bring nature into the heart of the street, and also mark the entry to emergency.
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New buildings will not be any higher than the existing hospital and landscape design will, in the majority of instances, make a seamless transition from hospital site to parkland.
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Q. What will some of the benefits of the new hospital be?
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The new hospital will have the highest percentage of single rooms of any public hospital in Australia, with 85% of all rooms in the new RCH being single bed rooms. It will have more neonatal cots and operating theatres and it has been designed to support the way health care is delivered today and into the future.
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The design of the new RCH will be more efficient and it will support principles of family-centred care. It will have:
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The new RCH will include a range of environmentally sustainable design features that will result in huge water and energy savings.
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Q. How has outdoor space been incorporated into the design?
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Research indicates that park environments provide a really powerful force to help lift kids’ (and their families’) morale and assist the healing process. The new RCH will be surrounded by parkland – a unique natural setting. Courtyards, terraces and gardens will give children and families easy access to the park’s ‘healing environment’. An outdoor ‘Grand Court’ will provide a natural amphitheatre space for entertainment and playgrounds will be included. Eighty percent of all patient rooms in the new RCH will have views of the park. Corridors and lifts will also feature views to nature.
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Unlike the existing hospital, there will be no boundary fencing or restrictive landscaping; instead the new hospital will blend seamlessly with the park. This integration will be better for patients, families and staff and will also minimise the hospital’s physical and aesthetic impact on the park.
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In addition, it will be oriented towards the north, providing maximum exposure not only for park views and access but also to northern light – important for maintenance of circadian rhythm in children with prolonged hospitalisation.
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Full integration with Royal Park will help to deliver the RCH’s vision of a healing hospital in a healing environment.
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Q. Will parent accommodation be included in the new hospital?
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Eighty five percent of all patient rooms in the new RCH will be single bed rooms, providing privacy for patients and their families, without compromising staff visibility and patient safety.
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Each patient room will feature a couch that will fold out into a double bed for parents. Additional emergency overnight accommodation will be provided and Ronald McDonald House will continue to provide a home-away-from-home for seriously sick kids and their families. The new hospital will also include a brand-new 90 room 3.5 star hotel, providing an option for extended families to stay within close distance to a sick relative.
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Q. Will there be a medi-hotel?
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We have changed the name to “Care by Parent” to reflect the transitional nature of the service. It will be part of an inpatient unit (most likely with rehabilitation and chronic respiratory) and used as a low nursing care facility for ambulatory inpatients, or as a transition to home.
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Q. Will the new RCH include adequate lecture and meeting space?
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With a trend towards drawing and sharing information across the campus, nationally and internationally, a new 3,000m2 Integrated Education Centre will meet the needs of all education programs, courses, workshops and conferences for medical, nursing and allied health. It will provide organisational wide facilities and programs with a greater emphasis on interaction. It will form part of the new Parkville medical and research precinct.
The new Integrated Education Centre will include a 250-seat tiered lecture theatre with function facilities, meeting rooms and separate student and staff lounges. The theatre will be easily accessible for both staff and external users. The Centre will facilitate interaction and will be supported by the Library, Archives and Education Resource Centre. It will be easily accessible off the new hospital’s ‘main street’. Wards and departments will also include their own tutorial and meeting rooms.
The new Centre will include provision for a simulation centre to mimic both resuscitation and operating theatre for clinical skills development, two wet-laboratories, seminar, meeting and computer training rooms, all equipped with the latest technology. The Education Resource Centre will be located within the Integrated Education Centre and will include a video studio, web design and office accommodation.
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Q. How will you ensure a secure facility given the integration with Royal Park?
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High-tech security and perimeter systems will be in place. Security requirements have been heavily detailed.
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Guiding Principles
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Q. What are ‘guiding principles’?
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Guiding principles are statements that articulate our strategic vision and mission. They serve as a basis for all decision-making when designing and planning for our new home, both the physical building and the systems and processes we will use to work in it.
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Q. What are the new RCH guiding principles?
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The principles, which are guiding all aspects of our new hospital, are:
· Child and family centered
. Operationally efficient and flexible
. Safety in design
. Decisions supported by evidence
. Partnerships and linkages
. Promoting a learning environment
The new RCH guiding principles were developed following consultation with staff, patients and their families, as well as investigating best practice in Australia and around the globe. They also support and are aligned to RCH’s strategic plan.
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Inpatients
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Q. How have the inpatient units been laid out?
The inpatient units have been designed to maximise flexibility and facilitate the accommodation of different clinical groupings in one unit.
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Q. What are the clinical, patient and family zones?
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Every patient room, clinical chair/bed will be zoned to protect patient and family space to ensure staff have clear and easy access to perform patient care.
The zones:
· Clinical zone will be the space closest to the doorway and accommodate medical gases, equipment and computer access.
· Patient zone will incorporate the chair/bed, state-of-the-art entertainment system, access to storage and nurse call (including hands free).
· Parent zone will accommodate a couch that folds out to a double bed, storage and internet access.
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Q. What are ‘inpatient pods’?
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An inpatient pod is a discrete area within an inpatient unit able to accommodate (if required) a different clinical diagnostic patient group. The area will also accommodate a range of support services to assist with efficient patient care within that pod. A pod is often interchanged with cluster.
Within every 30 bed inpatient unit there are two pods of 12 beds and one pod of six beds. There are two inpatient units on each floor and the pods of six in each unit are contiguous to increase flexibility across the floor. In every pod there is a desk outside every second room and a staff base, dirty utility room, mobile equipment and linen bay.
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Q. What are the benefits of single-bed rooms?
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Single-bed rooms will assist in reducing the risk of infection, reduce noise levels and increase privacy and comfort for patients and their families. All inpatient rooms will include purpose built, comfortable overnight sleeping facilities that will accommodate 1-2 parents.
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Outpatients
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Q. How will outpatients be structured?
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All outpatients will be co-located to ensure:
· Co-ordinated care (manage the process of care from end to end with seamless patient transfers)
· Simplified service systems for children, families and staff
· Easy way finding for patients and families
· Travel distances are reduced.
Outpatients will provide a ‘one stop shop’ concept bringing together the outpatient consulting area with the diagnostic ambulatory services and the associated support services in one location to make life easier for patients and families. This will mean check in, billing, treatment and appointments will all occur in the one place.
Doctors from certain disciplines will continue to see the same patients in the same clinics (as there will still be clinics identified with certain patient groups).
Clinics will be clustered in neighbourhoods with standard facilities such as consulting rooms, treatment areas and interview/discussion areas. Pathology collection and other investigation will be adjacent and close by to ensure care co-ordination.
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Shops, Services and Amenities
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Q. Why is the shop/service area expanding?
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RCH employs over 3,000 staff, and the University of Melbourne and MCRI contribute another 500-600 staff. There are between 100-150 students on site daily, as well as thousands of families, visitors and patients. Staff and families were consulted about the range of services and shops that they need to support them.
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Q. Have decisions already been made about retailers in the new RCH?
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The new RCH will include a variety of food outlets with a strong focus on healthy choice, however at this stage, no decision has been made as to the operators of those food outlets.
Food policy remains an area for consideration by RCH Board and Executive, and decisions in relation to food operations will be made at an appropriate time having regard to the 2011 completion date for the new hospital.
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Q. What shops and amenities will be available for families in the hospital?
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Families, patients and staff told us that they wanted to have access to ‘good food’ and essential items to help them carry out ‘normal’ chores and errands. The new RCH will include a small supermarket and a gymnasium as well as a range of healthy food options. There will be ATMs, a multi-faith centre and two child care centres. A small-scale 3.5-star hotel will be included, providing an option for extended families to stay within close distance to a sick relative.
The mix of shops/amenities will be made at an appropriate time having regard to the 2011 completion date for the new hospital.
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Environment
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Q. What ‘green’ design features will be included?
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A rigorous approach to environmental sustainability has been applied to the design of the new RCH. It will include a range of green features, which will result in massive water and energy savings. Some of the features include a blackwater treatment plant, rainwater collection, gas fired co-generation plant and energy efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems.
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Q. What is being done to reduce the impact of the new RCH on the environment?
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A rigorous approach to environmental sustainability has been applied to the design of the new RCH. The ‘green’ features will result in an overall 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (compared with a conventional hospital) and a minimum 20% reduction in water useage.
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Key Dates
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Q. When will work commence on the new RCH?
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Site preparation commenced in late-2007 and excavation of the site is now well underway.
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Q. When is the new RCH due to open?
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The new RCH will open in 2011.
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Q. What is the timing for reinstatement of parkland?
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The new RCH will open in 2011 after which time redundant buildings will be demolished and the site returned as parkland. The existing hospital will be demolished in 2012. Park reinstatement will be complete in 2014.
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Consultation
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Q. What has been the extent of public consultation?
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Both the State and the hospital consulted with a wide range of stakeholders regarding the new hospital and the four short-listed site options.
The first round of consultation was conducted in May to June 2005. It focused on what interested groups and individuals felt was required to provide Victoria with a “world-class” children’s hospital. Much of this feedback helped to shape the Project Brief.
During September and October 2005, a second round of consultation was undertaken. Interested groups and individuals were asked for their views on each of the four site options at public expos, in focus groups, via a ‘community’ page on the project website and formal written submissions.
A feedback form was designed to capture views and allowed respondents to indicate their level of support for more than one option. Families and carers, patients, RCH staff, health service providers, peak health support organisations, local residents, benefactors, users and friends of Royal Park, RCH partner organisations and interested members of the public provided a response.
Stakeholder briefings were also conducted in early March 2007. These sessions, attended by RCH staff, RCH patient family members, consumer advocacy groups and local residents, were aimed at advising stakeholders how their feedback was helping to shape the new RCH.
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Commercial Framework
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Q. What is a Private Public Partnership (PPP)?
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A. The new RCH is being delivered as a PPP in accordance with the State Government’s Partnerships Victoria policy guideline. A PPP is an arrangement where the Government contracts a private sector consortium to design, build and finance State infrastructure (eg. hospitals, roads, prisons) as well as maintain that infrastructure and provide a range of other services over a period of time. In the case of the RCH, the private sector will be responsible for designing and building the new hospital as well as being responsible for all building maintenance, security, car parking and grounds maintenance for 25 years.
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Q. Who is the private sector partner?
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The Children’s Health Partnership consortium, comprises Babcock & Brown as sponsors, Bovis Lend Lease as builder, Spotless Group as facilities manager and architects Billard Leece, Bates Smart and HKS (US).
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Q. What will the Children’s Health Partnership maintain in the new hospital?
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The Children’s Health Partnership will be responsible for maintaining building infrastructure, that is, everything that is fixed to the building as well as furniture and equipment other than medical and certain IT equipment.
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Q. Do PPP’s provide value for money?
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Better value is not just cheaper. It also means a higher quality and better maintained infrastructure. And it means obtaining the best deal for the State in the delivery of infrastructure across a number of qualitative and quantitative variables including price, quality of service delivery, design amenity and sustainability of the arrangement.
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Q. How will the State ensure that high standards of service delivery are maintained?
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The Partnerships Victoria policy is designed to tap into the expertise the private sector has in designing, financing, building and maintaining large infrastructure projects.
In addition, strict performance standards and accountabilities, tied to potentially severe financial penalties for the successful tenderer, will ensure provision of a high level of service.
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Q. Why deliver the new RCH as a PPP?
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The new RCH is being delivered as a Public Private Partnership, in accordance with the State Government's Partnerships Victoria policy. The Partnerships Victoria policy is designed to capture the best of what Government does, and combine this with the expertise the private sector has in designing, financing, building and maintaining large infrastructure projects. A project can only proceed as a PPP if it can be demonstrated to deliver better value for money compared with traditional State procurement.
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Parkland
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Q. What will happen to the existing RCH buildings?
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Once the new RCH has opened, redundant buildings on the existing site will be demolished and the land revegetated and reinstated as parkland. The recently completed Research Precinct Building and the Front Entry Building will be retained.
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Q. Will the new building integrate with the park?
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Research indicates that park environments provide a really powerful force to help lift kids’ (and their families’) morale and assist the healing process. The new RCH will be surrounded by parkland – a unique natural setting. Courtyards, terraces and gardens will give children and families easy access to the park’s ‘healing environment’. Eighty percent of all patient rooms in the new RCH will have views of the park. Corridors and lifts will also feature views to nature.
Unlike the existing hospital, there will be no boundary fencing or restrictive landscaping; instead the new hospital will blend seamlessly with the park. This integration will be better for patients, families and staff and will also minimise the hospital’s physical and aesthetic impact on the park.
The building’s external façade has been designed with the park environment in mind, reflecting shapes and colours from nature and the trees that will surround it. It will take full advantage of its park location.
The glazed sun shading or ‘natural leaf elements’ will reflect the vegetation of Royal Park and, unlike the existing hospital designed in the 1950s, the new building will take full advantage of its location.
Full integration with Royal Park will help to deliver the RCH’s vision of a healing hospital in a healing environment.
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Q. How do we know that the government will really return the existing site to parkland?
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Legislation has been enacted which, among other things, enshrines the Government’s commitment that there will not be any net loss of parkland as a result of building the new hospital in Royal Park.
Accordingly, the Act ensures that:
· The size of the new hospital must be less than 4.1 ha, which is the size of the existing hospital; and
· The site of the old hospital, together with any surplus construction site land, will be returned to Royal Park following construction and demolition activities.
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Q. Will any future expansion of the hospital encroach on Royal Park?
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Any future expansion of the hospital must remain within the legislated 4.1 ha site boundary..
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Q. How will flora within the site be protected? How many trees will be removed?
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The State, in collaboration with the Children’s Health Partnership and relevant experts, has developed a plan, which clearly identifies vegetation to be retained, and the program for the protection, relocation and replacement of any vegetation impacted on by construction activities. The plan focuses on avoiding impact wherever possible, then aims to minimise and off-set any impact on Royal Park. Consultation with Melbourne City Council will also take place.
There will be no impact on the ‘fairy circle’ of trees on the northern side of the new site. The construction zone will not extend beyond the pedestrian/bike track to the north of the site.
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Q. How will fauna be protected on the site?
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A study carried out by expert ecologists suggests that the project is unlikely to impact significantly on any individual species or populations of fauna, however the State will work closely with the Children’s Health Partnership and relevant to protect fauna impacted on by construction activities.
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Q. Following completion of construction, who will be responsible for converting the surplus project land and old hospital site to parkland?
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The State will be responsible for the reinstatement of these areas to Royal Park.
The concept design for the reinstatement, which will incorporate a new ‘gateway’ to Royal Park, will be a collaborative effort involving and reflecting a range of stakeholders views and requirements including Melbourne City Council (as the future park manager) and the local community.
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Q. Has a budget been allocated for park reinstatement?
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The project budget includes a full allowance for park reinstatement. Reinstatement will be undertaken directly by the State in close consultation with Melbourne City Council and the local community.
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Q. What is the purpose of the RCH (Land) Act?
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The Act provides the necessary legal changes to the status of the new hospital site so that the new hospital can be built. The outcomes of the Act are outlined below.
The site of the new RCH was previously Crown land, permanently reserved for public park purposes. Its use was restricted by the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978. The Act revoked the permanent reservation over the construction site, making it unreserved Crown Land, capable of being dealt with under the Land Act 1958. Removing the reservation allows the site to be used as a construction site, and ultimately for hospital purposes.
At the completion of the construction of the new hospital and demolition of the old hospital, the Act will:
· Provide for the temporary reservation of the new Hospital site for hospital purposes and the appointment of the Royal Children’s Hospital (the RCH) as the committee of management of the site;
· Provide the RCH with the ability to enter into long term leases or licences (up to 30 years) for purposes consistent with the hospital reservation; and
· Enshrine the Government’s commitment that there will not be any net loss of parkland as a result of building the new Hospital in Royal Park.
Accordingly, the Act ensures that:
· The size of the new hospital must be less than 4.1 ha, which is the approximate size of the existing hospital; and
· The site of the old hospital, together with any surplus construction site land, will be returned to Royal Park following construction and demolition activities.
The Act ensures that, following construction of the new RCH and demolition of old buildings, the total area of land set aside for the Royal Children’s Hospital will be less than 4.1 ha.
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Q. How big will the final site of the new RCH be?
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The RCH (Land) Act requires the Minister for Health to ensure that the final site of the new hospital is less than 4.1 ha, which is the approximate size of the existing hospital site. The winning design has been developed within these constraints.
There will be no net reduction of parkland in Royal Park as a result of this project or this Act.
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Q. If the final site is to be 4.1 ha, why is the initial excision from Royal Park bigger?
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The initial excision from Royal Park will be 6.8 ha. This will be scaled back to 4.1ha at the end of the construction phase.
A larger area is required initially in order to accommodate construction requirements and ensure a safe construction environment. The area will provide a buffer zone around the old and new sites to accommodate construction equipment and activities and ensure public safety and that of site personnel.
Once the construction of the new hospital is completed and the old hospital buildings are demolished, all the surplus construction site land as well as the site of the demolished hospital buildings will be restored to parkland. The final footprint of the new hospital will be less than 4.1 ha.
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Q. Will any of the additional land be used for car parking for construction workers?
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Construction workers will park on site until commencement of work on the new hospital structure in April 2007. Discussions with alternative local car parking facilities are currently underway to accommodate the workers post-April 2007.
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Car Parking, Bike Parking and Traffic Flows
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Q. How many car spaces will there be?
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The new RCH will include over 2,000 car parking spaces, 50 motor cycle spaces and 500 bike spaces. There will be more disabled and pram friendly parking.
The majority of car parking will be underground and will meet Australian security and lighting standards. Access to the carpark will be along Flemington Road. There will be 3 entry/exit points, which take into account functional requirements, projected traffic volumes and City of Melbourne and Vic Roads planning requirements.
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Q. Is there provision for bicycle parking?
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There will be 500 undercover secure bicycle spaces located close to staff change and locker rooms. Bicycle stands will meet Department of Sustainability and Environment and Bicycle Victoria guidelines.
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Q. Will the new hospital be located close to public transport?
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The new RCH will remain accessible by public transport. Trams will continue to run along Flemington Road and through Royal Park. A tram superstop will be created, making it easier for families with prams and wheelchairs.
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Q. Where will the underground carpark be located?
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The new 2000 space car park will be located underneath the new RCH.
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Impact of Construction
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Q. Will hospital services be impacted in any way during construction of the new RCH?
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Care for children’s health will not be compromised during construction of the new facility. Victoria’s sick kids will continue to receive the full range of services that are currently available at the existing RCH until the new hospital opens.
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Q. What impact will the construction of the new hospital have on the existing site and local residents?
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Patient care will not be compromised during construction of the new facility.
Patients will continue to receive the full range of services that are currently available. The existing hospital will remain fully operational until the new hospital opens.
With a fully functioning hospital adjacent to the construction site, it will be critical that any construction related impacts (eg. noise, dust, vibration) and other disruptions are kept to an absolute minimum. Regular consultation will take place between the builder, hospital management and the local community to discuss construction issues and minimise any disruption to the existing hospital or local residents.
Initiatives will draw on the wealth of experience and expertise from successful hospital projects in Victoria involving construction activity close to functioning hospitals.
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Q. Will there be any impacts to car parking and traffic flows during the construction of the new RCH?
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A range of initiatives have been implemented to ensure that any impacts on patients, their families and staff are minimised during the construction of the new RCH. However some traffic flow and car parking impacts may be unavoidable. However, we will continue to work closely with the RCH and the local community to ensure impacts are minimised and managed appropriately. The Children’s Health Partnership has provided a detailed traffic management plan that addresses safety and traffic interruption issues.
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Q. Where will construction traffic enter the site?
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Demolition and construction traffic will only access the construction site from Flemington Road. Construction vehicles will not access the site from Gatehouse Street.
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Q. What processes will be put in place to ensure the builders and their activities stay within the construction site boundary and not enter the park area?
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Temporary hoardings will be erected to separate the construction site from the park and the existing hospital site to ensure the safety of park users, hospital staff, patients, their visitors, and construction workers.
The size of the construction site will be tightly controlled by the terms of the construction licence granted to the builder by the State.
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