This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
TENDERS are open at the $40 million Hervey Bay Hospital expansion project in Queensland, as the state government’s $9.78 billion Health Big Build reaches another milestone.
The expansion will provide a further 35 patient beds to the hospital, including 25-bed medical inpatient unit and new 10-bed intensive care unit (ICU) to replace the existing seven-bed ICU.
The expansion will also see the construction of a rooftop helipad to replace the existing at-grade helipad.
“The $40 million expansion of Hervey Bay Hospital will ensure that even more patients on the Fraser Coast receive the high-quality care they expect and deserve. This is such a terrific milestone for our entire community,” said Adrian Tantari, member for Hervey Bay.
This all builds on the successful completion of the $44.66 million Hervey Bay Hospital Emergency Department (ED) project in 2019.
“The foresight of incorporating an entire second level for future services during the design of the ED building has paved the way for this expansion, ensuring flexibility and adaptability as healthcare needs evolve,” said Debbie Carroll, chief executive at WBHHS.
“Detailed design activities for the project were completed in April 2022 after extensive consultation with WBHHS staff and multiple project user group sessions.
This expansion is part of the government’s $9.78 billion Health Big Build, which has committed to delivering three new hospitals, eleven hospital expansions, and over 3,300 new beds to communities across Queensland.
This latest milestone comes as stage one of the Fraser Coast Mental Health Project, also worth almost $40 million, is completed.
With construction completed the 22-bed Hervey Bay Mental Health Inpatient unit (IPU) will open to patients early next year.
“This new mental health facility will mean that more beds and essential support services will be available closer to home for residents in Hervey Bay and surrounding areas,” said Shannon Fentiman, minister for health, mental health and ambulance services.
“We know regional areas are particularly vulnerable to mental health crises and by increasing our commitment to services on the Fraser Coast we can ensure this community has access to the support and services they expect and deserve.”
The Hervey Bay IPU will serve as the operational hub for the Community Acute Care Team, situated near the Hervey Bay Hospital’s emergency department.
While the second stage of the project will transform the existing inpatient unit at Maryborough Hospital into a fully refurbished 10-bed specialist sub-acute unit, specifically dedicated to older people’s mental health care.
The Health Big Build is the largest investment in health infrastructure in Queensland’s history.
Earlier this year, the government awarded $1.17 billion in tenders to deliver major expansions at the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee and Ipswich hospitals in the state’s south east.
In addition to the new $1.2 billion Bundaberg Hospital that will be built on 60 hectares of land just south of the city centre, while a $250 million hospital expansion in Cairns will deliver new beds in 2024.
