Blacktown City Council is planning to sell off its administration centre to pave the way for an $800 million private brain and spinal medical centre headed by prominent neurosurgeon Charlie Teo.
The Blacktown Brain and Spine Institute would be located at the site of council’s Administration Centre on Flushcombe Road, which includes the former Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils building and surrounding car park, as well as the building currently housing the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.
The council says the sale would provide funding for the temporary relocation of some council administrative staff while eventually enabling the planned move to new purpose-built administration offices in the CBD as well as the redevelopment of the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.
The BBSI is being pitched as a world leader in medical research, practice, treatment and recovery, which will attract “medical tourists” from South-East Asia, China and further afield.
It is planned to include a medical research institute (with a university partner), a private hospital, a medi-hotel, retail space, and residential apartments. Announcing the plan for the institute in December 2019, Teo said “I want a centre of health that doesn’t feel like a hospital at all. I want a place that feels pleasant almost like a vacation.”
Details about business partners and funding models for the institute have not been revealed, but the Blacktown mayor says he is confident it could be a city-shaping project.
“This will be a major leap forward in the redevelopment of the Blacktown city centre,” said Blacktown mayor Tony Bleasdale.
“The Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute will bring hundreds of millions of dollars investment into our city and at the same time, council will be able to develop a landmark administration and cultural centre.
“BBSI would be one of the most significant investments ever in Blacktown City, with an estimated total construction value of $800 million.
“It will also provide facilities to support international medi-tourism which in turn has the potential to generate income from overseas, assisting the NSW economy.”
