Australian Community Pharmacy Authority Applicant's Handbook
2. General requirements for applications involving relocation
2. General requirements for applications involving relocation
Every application for the relocation of an existing approval must meet each of these requirements. These requirements do not apply to an application for the establishment of a new approval.2.1 Existing approval not granted within two years
Generally, an approval must have been in force for two years before it can be relocated. There are certain exceptions to this requirement. If the approval has been in force less than two years, an application must include evidence demonstrating that it meets one of the exceptions specified in the pharmacy location rules.The exceptions are described below:
- the existing and proposed premises are in the same large shopping centre or private hospital; or
- the existing and proposed premises are in the same single pharmacy rural locality; or
- the purpose of the application is to relocate the existing approval while the existing premises are being renovated or refurbished; or
- the proposed premises have been renovated or refurbished and were previously occupied by the pharmacy at the existing premises; or
- there are exceptional circumstances (for example, the existing premises have been damaged by fire or flood); or
- the existing premises are the result of an expansion or contraction, and the previous approval was granted at least two years ago; or
- the proposed premises are an expansion or contraction of the existing premises.
See item 302, Part 1, Schedule 3
See also paragraph 6(4)
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2.2 Existing approval not granted as a new approval (rural)
If the existing approval being relocated was granted as a new rural approval from 1 July 2000, it cannot under any circumstances be relocated from the town in which it was granted. It can, however, be relocated within that same town.If an applicant is unsure whether the existing approval was granted as a new rural approval, they should contact the ACPA Secretariat, Medicare Australia or refer to the information provided at the time the approval was granted.
See items 303 & 304, Part 2, Schedule 3
2.3 Existing approval not granted as a new approval (general)
If the existing approval being relocated was granted as a new approval (general) from 1 July 2006 (that is, under Rule 113), for a period of five years it can only be relocated to premises that are within 1.5 km, by straight line, of the original premises (subject to the relevant rules).If an applicant is unsure whether the existing approval was granted as a new approval (general), they should contact the ACPA Secretariat, Medicare Australia or refer to the information provided at the time the approval was granted.
See paragraph 3.1 for information about straight line measurement.
See items 306 & 307, Part 2, Schedule 3
See also paragraph 8
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2.4 Existing approval not granted within specified facility
Generally, an approval that has been granted from 1 July 2006 as a result of:Rule 109 - relocation to small shopping centre; or
Rule 110 - relocation to large shopping centre; or
Rule 111 - relocation to private hospital; or
Rule 112 - relocation to large medical centre;
cannot subsequently relocate out of that facility using a short distance relocation (either Rule 104 or 105) unless the ACPA is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances. For example, if the existing premises are situated within a small shopping centre that has been damaged by fire, and all tenants of the centre must find temporary accommodation until the centre is repaired.
See item 305, Part 2, Schedule 3
