Hospitals hit in raid to turn over WA assets
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has earmarked a set of sites to be sold in the Federal Government’s asset recycling scheme.
The deal to sell public assets to access infrastructure discounts has state government’s looking to clear house.
Announcing the first things to go this week, Mr Barnett said he expected to raise $250 million by offloading State Government land including five hospital precincts.
Shenton Park, Kaleeya, Princess Margaret Hospital, Swan District and Woodside Maternity hospitals have all been earmarked for sale.
Mr Barnett also said a Land Asset Advisory Group would be set up to look at the ongoing sale of property assets across the state.
Large tracts of Agriculture and Public Transport departments’ land are on the list, plus some land around the Cottesloe School for the Deaf.
“These pieces of land, all in the metropolitan area and from a range of portfolios, would be better transferred to private ownership to be redeveloped or restored,” Mr Barnett said.
“The sale process will vary from one piece of land to another with some sites ready to go to market now, and others that will take more work to get ready for sale.
“We expect initial land sales to generate about $250million for the State.”
The Shenton Park Hospital is already set to be decommissioned next month, with services transferring to the new Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Kaleeya Hospital's obstetrics, gynaecology and neonatal services will reportedly move to Fiona Stanley Hospital as well. Kaleeya’s sub-acute services are going Fremantle Hospital, and elective surgery will be split between both.
Minister for Lands, Terry Redman said several more Government sites will be marked appropriate for sale “within the next few months”.