Council breaks ground on world-class $52m cancer facility

Construction has begun on a new $52 million facility that will provide world-class services to cancer patients and researchers in Campbelltown.

Local politicians, doctors, representatives from the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) and key community members gathered on site for a sod-turning ceremony, to officially mark the commencement of construction.

The new cancer centre will include medical oncology and radiation oncology services, medical imaging, pathology, a clinical trials unit and allied health services, under the one roof.

The project 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, NorthWest-managed Vital Healthcare Property Trust.

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.

Campbelltown Mayor, George Greiss, said the project will expand and improve upon existing services.

“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,” Cr Greiss said.

“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.”

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.

GenesisCare’s NSW General Manager, Fergus Rourke, said the project will future-proof the region’s medical services and play a critical role in the ongoing treatment of cancer patients.

“Campbelltown is one of Australia’s fastest growing cities and over the last decade a huge amount of work has gone into future-proofing local healthcare services to accommodate for the growing population,” Mr Rourke said.

“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.”

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.