Plan to turn Westmead into Silicon Valley of health services

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Photo: The boost to medical research and universities has Government support (AAP: Westmead Hospital)

Westmead in Sydney’s west could become a world-leading medical innovation hub in 20 years, under a new plan put forward by Deloitte Access Economics.

A report to be released today outlines a proposal to create the “Westmead Innovation District” for health services, education and medical research by 2036.

Westmead is already Australia’s biggest health services precinct with large hospitals including a children’s hospital, research institutes and education in nursing and medicine delivered by the University of Western Sydney and University of Sydney.

The report said if the transformation of Westmead was successful it would grow the workforce from 18,000 to 50,000.

The Western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber, David Borger, said with so many skilled jobs already there, it was an opportunity not to be missed.

“We know that western Sydney has a shortage of jobs,” he said.

“Smart jobs have really been centralising in Sydney’s CBD and North Ryde.

“But what we are finding is Westmead is bucking the trend.

“And it has a magical mix of medical research, science and universities.”

Land should go to health, not housing: director

The report also set other growth targets including a boost to the number of tertiary students from 2,000 to 9,000 by 2036, more than doubling the number of researchers to 2,500 and increasing the number of residents from 12,500 to 20,000.

Mr Borger said for the transformation to occur, surplus government land in the Westmead areas needed to be earmarked for jobs instead of being released for housing.

“We know that housing is really hot in Sydney at the moment but we think that’s a short-term gain,” he said.

The report also proposed improving transport to Westmead and creating a new “civic heart”.

“It needs a main street,” Mr Borger said.

“We need to develop a King Street, Newtown-type precinct within that medical precinct if we are going to attract and retain talented people.”

The report was commissioned by a group known as the Westmead Alliance.

Its members include the Children’s Medical Research Institute, Cumberland Council, University of Sydney, Western Sydney Local Health District, Western Sydney University, City of Parramatta Council, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Sydney Business Chamber, Westmead Private Hospital, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and UrbanGrowth NSW.

The Alliance is now looking at the Toronto Discovery District in Canada as a model for the hub in Westmead.

The State Government has indicated it is supportive of the plan which is due to be released by Planning Minister Rob Stokes.