Application lodged for new skin cancer clinic

An existing building along Barolin Street could be transformed into a skin cancer care and treatment clinic if a development application is approved by Bundaberg Regional Council.

The application for a material change of use was submitted by the Blair Family Superannuation Fund to utilise the site for a medical clinic.

The proposal includes three consultation and procedure suites and a nursing station.

There will be a patient set-down area and disability parking at the front of the Barolin Street building. The site will also have eight standard parking bays.

The application has been submitted by Charles Blair, a rural generalist surgeon who completed his advanced surgical skills training at Bundaberg Base Hospital.

“My wife Larine and I have lived in the Bundaberg region on-and-off for 15 years and we want to enjoy that outdoor lifestyle with our young family,” Dr Blair said.

“Living in the sunshine state means being sun smart. Unfortunately, melanoma is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the Wide Bay Burnett region.

“Melanoma incidence rates continue to increase across the country.”

Dr Blair said the clinic would focus on the prevention, detection and management of skin cancer, and hopefully reduce demand on the public health system.

“Services will include simple annual skin checks and wound care through to complex skin flaps and grafts. Referrals will not be necessary,” he said.

“We will work with GPs and oncology doctors to deliver the best standard of patient care.

“We are in the very early planning stages and still have a long way to go. All things going well, we hope to start accepting patients early in 2020.”

Council's planning and development portfolio spokesman Cr Ross Sommerfeld said the building at 53 Barolin Street had previously been used for commercial purposes as an office space.

“The proposal does not alter the footprint of this building but rather changes the internal configuration of the area, including replacing the front patio with a ramp,” he said.

Cr Sommerfeld said the development application was one of many in the health care services category to be received by Council in the past 12 months.

“The region is experiencing growth in the medical sector with a number of development applications coming through,” he said.

“Earlier this year more than 110 local jobs were created when construction of a new aeromedical base began at Bundaberg Airport for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and LifeFlight purpose-built base and patient transfer facility.

“A medical centre was recently approved in two stages at 19 Branyan Street, Bundaberg West.

“Orange Moose Dental is currently under construction on Targo Street, Bundaberg South.

“Also, a medical centre, branded Kensington Medical was recently approved at Commercial Street, Kensington.

“Finally, the $19.8 million stage two expansion of the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) will increase the range of services currently offered by IWC to the whole community, including more Allied Health professionals and specialists.”