North West Mental Health Precinct

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The new Precinct will provide a The $40 million facility will deliver a 22-bed inpatient unit (18 low-care and 4 high-care beds) plus a 5-bed short-stay unit in a purpose-built, recovery-focused environment. Its design includes therapeutic outdoor spaces, flexible clinical areas, improved staff workflows, and a welcoming, homelike environment for consumers, families, and staff.

 

 

May 2026 – Planning approval was granted for the North West Mental Health Precinct at the southern end of the North West Regional Hospital campus. The design includes clinical and staff support areas, secure courtyards, ambulance access, parking and landscaped outdoor spaces. 

 

March 2026 – A public meeting was held as part of the approvals process, providing community feedback on updated design refinements and operational layout.

 

Concept Design


November 2025 – Updated designs were released for consultation, showing refined building form, internal layouts, and improvements to clinical flow, safety and outdoor therapeutic spaces.  The project progressed through detailed design and approvals, with development documentation prepared for planning submission and regulatory assessment.

 

Design team – The facility was designed by ARTAS Architects in collaboration with Billard Leece Partnership, focusing on contemporary, recovery-oriented mental health infrastructure.


In March 2025, an initial concept design was shared for the Project. The updated concept design incorporates stakeholder feedback, ensuring the project delivers the best possible outcomes for staff, patients and visitors.

 

The new artists impressions are available to view on the Department of Health website:www.health.tas.gov.au/priority-projects


Design refinements considered valuable stakeholder and community feedback and have included:


  • Reduction of overall building height to minimise visual impact and respond to feedback about building height and integration with the surrounding environment.
  • Locating most of the car parking for the new facility adjacent to the building, rather than underneath it, to improve accessibility, safety and integration with the site.
  • Removal of the 5-bed Short Stay unit to deliver a 22-bed mental health in-patient unit, increasing the current capacity provided through the Spencer Clinic.

  

 

Contact us

If you have any questions or concerns about the new Northern Mental Health Precinct, please contact our engagement consultants, RPS via email on NWMHP@rpsconsulting.com or phone on 1800 175 761 (during office hours).

Location

23 Brickport Road, Burnie 7320  View Map and directions

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