Red Tape Snarls Vital Dental Clinic’s Expansion

Dental South, a key provider of dental care in the rapidly growing Margate community, is facing an unexpected hurdle in its plans to expand. Despite having surplus off-street parking, the clinic’s expansion has been stalled by council parking requirements that demand an additional 98 parking spaces before even a pre-approval submission can be made.

On ABC Radio Hobart, Dental South’s founder Dr Jess Manuela voiced her frustration, stating,

“I think there are rules, and then there is real life, and I think that needs to be taken into consideration.”

The clinic plans to expand into two adjacent, heritage-listed buildings that previously housed a hairdresser and a pharmacy.

“The reality is, I’m trying to expand into two shops that joined to my building. This time last year they were open, we’ve got the same amount of parking that has worked. So we don’t actually need more parking to function.”

The clinic’s expansion is critical to meet patient demand.

Currently, patients face “long wait times for routine appointments,” and Manuela said they can’t get a routine patient in for two months. For six-monthly check-ups, the wait can be up to nine months. The clinic is also unable to provide emergency dental care unless there are last-minute cancellations, leading to serious consequences for the community.

“Some are going to the emergency department at the Royal Hobart hospital for toothaches, which is ridiculous,” she said.

Mayor Paula Wriedt of Kingborough Council acknowledged the difficulty of the situation.

“Unfortunately, we’re caught in a situation where there are, there is the state government planning scheme, and we are, I guess, if you like, the bunnies who have to assess it,” she told ABC radio.

She explained that the council is bound by state guidelines which mandate parking requirements based on the type of business and factors such as “pedestrian safety, traffic flow, and a whole lot of things.”

Manuela, however, feels caught in a bureaucratic nightmare after investing heavily in the expansion, including new dental hardware to increase our capacity and reduce patient wait times.

She claims she was initially told the plans were fine, only to be informed later of the parking issue.

“It’s just causing a lot of stress on myself, having invested in loans which are accruing interest, which there’s no end in sight for my expansion to happen,” she said.

Dental South is now seeking community support, arguing the new regulations don’t reflect the real life needs of the growing community and is urging community members to sign a petition to demonstrate to the council that accessible, timely dental care matters to the people of Margate and surrounding areas.

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