Bulk earthworks for the new $207.15million Karratha Health Campus (KHC), the largest ever regional hospital investment in Western Australia, are now under way.
Visiting the site today, Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the $15.8million earthworks program included site preparation and a new east-west link road between Balmoral and Searipple roads at the northern end of the Karratha CBD.
“The central location of the new campus will contribute to the vibrant new city centre and make the region attractive to health professionals as a place to work and live,” Mr Redman said.
“Investment in health infrastructure and services is fundamental to the ongoing viability and development of regional WA.”
The new health campus has been made possible with $206.5million of the project funded through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program. A further $650,000 came from the Pilbara Health Initiative, a joint partnership between the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy’s Pilbara Industry’s Community Council Health Initiative members.
Health Minister Kim Hames said Karratha Health Campus would offer outstanding health care closer to home, in an environment to rival any modern city hospital.
“It will have a significantly expanded emergency department with the capacity to manage external disasters, a brand new surgical centre, state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT) scanner and world class Telehealth services to bring WA’s best emergency and specialist practitioners to Karratha residents,” Dr Hames said.
“Local families will benefit from new delivery suites, an improved maternity wing and expanded facilities to support essential services such as child health and medical imaging - all under one roof. It will provide a comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ for the delivery of much needed health services such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, counselling, community health nursing, community mental health and aged care support.”
The health campus development site works are expected to be completed by mid-2015. Construction of the KHC will commence in late 2015 and it is expected to be open in early 2018.
Fact File
Downer EDI Works were appointed to undertake the earthworks program by LandCorp
Approximately 150,000 cubic meters of clean fill would be imported to address the site’s low-lying nature and raise the site above the 500 year storm surge level
Karratha Health Campus will be a key development in the $1.7b Pilbara Cities initiative
Regional Development Minister’s office - 6552 6700
Health Minister’s office - 6552 5300
