South Sydney hospital gets a makeover

The NSW State Government has unveiled plans to redeveloped the 16,800 square metre former South Sydney Hospital site at Zetland.

The City of Sydney has made around 5,600 square metres, or one third of the site, available to not-for-profit developer for the construction of more than 100 affordable housing units.

Affordable housing manager City West Housing will take control of the area when the project is delivered.

“There’s an urgent need for more affordable housing close to the city, to ensure people employed in essential services can afford to live close to where they work,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

The project was opened by Minister for Human Services and Member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek, who said the development would help to alleviate the City’s housing shortage.

“These 23 one-bedroom units and 15 two-bedroom units will provide a welcome boost to Sydney’s housing supply,” she said.

“They will provide a home for people living or working in Ultimo/Pyrmont or Green Square who are otherwise unable to secure affordable, long-term housing in the local area.”

Affordable housing is subsidised at below market rates and made available to low or moderate income households.

A report earlier this year by the National Housing Supply Council painted a grim picture for Sydney’s housing situation with gaps in housing supply predicted to almost double of the next ten years.

There are also almost 150,000 people on housing waiting lists.

Council says heritage buildings such as the Nurses Home building will be protected and preserved during the development.

Current estimates predict the development will be completed by late 2013 or early 2014.

By Simon Black