By HARRY CLARKE
MAJOR international construction company John Holland has been awarded the first stage tender to build the new $1.3 billion Toowoomba Hospital.
The new Toowoomba Hospital is the first of three new hospitals to be awarded under the Queensland Government’s Health and Hospitals Plan, a $9.78 billion Capacity Expansion Program which also includes 11 hospital expansions and delivery of a state-of-the-art cancer centre.
The new hospital will provide an additional 118 beds across medical, surgical, maternity, coronary and intensive care units, enhancing access to a range of services for the Darling Downs community.
It will provide emergency department treatment spaces, outpatient consultation rooms and diagnostic rooms and also include medical imaging, pharmacy, and pathology services as well as administration, education and training facilities for hospital staff.
The project is expected to create 3,120 jobs during construction.
“Our Government is leading the nation when it comes to investing in health infrastructure, and this announcement is further proof that we are making headwind,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in a statement.
“Our hospitals play a key role in Queensland’s Big Build – our $89 billion state-wide suite of projects that are delivering the economic and social infrastructure our growing communities need.”
John Holland CEO, Joe Barr, said the project was another strong endorsement of the team’s health building capabilities.
“We have a trusted partnership with the Queensland Government to deliver the facilities that Queenslanders depend on,” Barr said.
“The new Toowoomba Hospital adds to an incredible pipeline of projects, including the Logan and PA hospital expansions, and the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre near Gatton.”
Executive General Manager David Lehmann said John Holland was well placed to build a lasting legacy in Queensland healthcare.
“Projects like these transform lives. The new Toowoomba Hospital will deliver the state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and services that these growing communities deserve,” he said.
“During construction, this project will create thousands of jobs while also unlocking opportunities for local training and skills development, Indigenous participation and social procurement.”
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Annette Scott (pictured) said the major Toowoomba project was part of improvements to government health services infrastructure across the region.
“Our Baillie Henderson campus is rapidly evolving into a modern healthcare hub for the Darling Downs,” Scott said.
“We are currently delivering the 20-million-dollar early works package in preparation for the New Toowoomba Hospital which is crucial in ensuring the site is ready for major works to commence next year as well as works progressing on the new Toowoomba Day Surgery which we expect to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.
“We know that modern facilities are a consideration for medical staff when they are choosing an organisation to work for, and we are positioning ourselves to become a destination of choice for health service professionals with a pipeline of new infrastructure in Toowoomba, Tara, and Millmerran and of course the recently completed hospital in Kingaroy.
“This a once in a generation project that we must get right, and I welcome today’s announcement and look forward to continuing the important work we’ve started.”
