Healthy bonus: Construction industry’s $8 billion hospitals windfall
Twelve construction companies are in the running to take a share of $8 billion in public money as the Palaszczuk Government splashes out on three new hospitals and nine major hospital expansions.
Cairns Hospital will receive $250 million to upgrade the current facility with an additional 141 beds, while Townsville University Hospital has been slated to deliver an extra 143 beds by 2026 at a cost of $503 million. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Announced in the last State Budget, the record hospital spend promises to deliver 1980 additional beds across Queensland over the next six years.
It comes a time when health services and the government’s management of the sector is under enormous strain compounded by acute workforce shortages and rising demand from a growing and ageing population.
It also follows the government’s announcement that 834 medical interns will be deployed across 20 Queensland facilities over the next month – the largest intake of junior doctors in Queensland’s history.
The announcement that 12 as yet unnamed construction companies have been shortlisted to tender for more than $8 billion worth of capital will come as another tonic for the building sector, with the program looking to recruit nearly 20,000 construction workers until scheduled completion in 2027.
The works include new hospitals in Bundaberg and Toowoomba and major expansions of Townsville, Cairns and Mackay hospitals.
In the state’s south east, works will include a new hospital in Coomera and six major expansions of Redcliffe, Ipswich, Logan, QEII, Princess Alexandra and Prince Charles hospitals.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said Queensland Health had engaged in a “robust and collaborative process” with the construction sector to begin delivering the program, with the shortlist created after receiving expressions of interest and broader engagement with industry.
“This engagement has meant the tender process to-date has been efficient, transparent and ultimately, competitive and fair,” D’Ath said.
“Queensland Health has set high standards for the contractors, based on sound design principles that focus on people, place, value add and technology.
“Successful tenderers will need to meet these standards as they finalise the designs, working in collaboration with the newly formed Health Capital Division in the Department of Health and in partnership with the local Hospital and Health Services.”
The contracts are expected to be announced from April this year.
