Abandoned hospital site to be brought back to full health

BY KENJI SATO

City of Sydney are set to turn land surrounding the abandoned South Sydney Hospital into public parklands.

The park will be part of the $8 billion Green Square project, which aims to transform the southern part of the city centre into a “green, urban environment”.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that this project was necessary to accommodate the inner south’s rapidly growing population.

“Green Square is one of the fastest growing parts of Sydney and we’re spending more than $400 million building important new community facilities,” she said.

“That will include an aquatic centre and library, as well as numerous parks and gardens to make sure this village remains a great place to live.”

Ben Aveling, Co-convener of the Alexandria Residents Action Group, told City Hub that for local residents, more green space was better late than never.

“We’ve been promised open spaces for a long time,” he said.

“We have one of the lowest ratios of open space to population in Australia, and that is getting worse as we get more residents. So more parkland will be good.”

The parklands will provide children’s playgrounds, seating areas and trees.

The park will link up to another park currently under development, the Matron Ruby Grant Park, and together they will form around 5,500 square metres of open space around the former hospital.

Clr Moore said the disused hospital buildings would be renovated and turned into cultural facilities, creative spaces, a childcare centre and meeting rooms.

“These parks will be designed to complement the heritage value of the hospital buildings and provide a wonderful place for everyone to relax and for children to play,” she said.

Plans for the parklands are still being reviewed, and the final designs will be made in consultation with the local community.