Limestone Coast residents will benefit from the construction of a new multi-storey integrated cancer building in Adelaide’s inner south to accommodate thousands of South Australians impacted by cancer and their families.
The State Government has contributed $10m towards the new $31m Cancer Council SA building on Greenhill Road at Eastwood. The five-storey development will be the state’s new home for all South Australian impacted by cancer.
Premier Steven Marshall helped turn the first sod on construction last week. “This is yet another example of this Government building what matters for South Australians, with this new facility helping to reduce the stress and uncertainty for families who are battling cancer,” he said.
“This facility will be a home away from home for the thousands of regional South Australians who need to travel to Adelaide for their treatment. “We want South Australians to feel comfortable and at ease in a new facility that delivers the support they need while making them feel at home during their challenging time.”
Health and Well-being Minister Stephen Wade said the 120-room accommodation will replace Cancer Council SA’s Greenhill Lodge in Eastwood and Flinders Lodge in Kent Town. “While these facilities have served South Australians well for decades, both are no longer fit-for-purpose, with Greenhill Lodge in particular prone to constant cracking,” he said.
“As a result, rooms are in constant need of repair and maintenance which impacts the number of rooms available to those who need them. “The Marshall Liberal Government is committed to fighting cancer and closing the gap in cancer outcomes between the city and country.”
The purpose-built accommodation facility will include communal kitchen facilities, dining spaces (pre-cooked affordable dinners can be delivered), quiet breakout spaces, activity hub staffed by volunteers, access to on-site social workers, information and resource area, culturally appropriate accommodation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, family rooms and play spaces, on-site parking and free transport to treatment centres.
As well as providing accommodation, the new $31m building will also be the home of Cancer Council SA’s new headquarters for its support and information services, counselling services, prevention activities, intervention programs and behavioural research team.
The project is expected to support up to 160 jobs during construction, which is expected to finish by May 2022.
