Government seeks project partner to deliver hospital expansion

The Canberra Hospital Emergency Department will move as part of the SPIRE project. Photo: George Tsotsos.

The ACT Government has kicked off the procurement process for the $500 million Canberra Hospital expansion by calling for expressions of interests from potential partners to deliver the project.

SPIRE – the new state-of-the-art emergency, surgical and critical healthcare facility at the hospital – will be procured under an early contractor involvement model in which the contractor will work with the Territory to design and build the project.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the Government and the contractor would jointly identify opportunities to improve design outcomes, ways to achieve the best build possible and to deliver cost efficiencies across the life of the project.

The call for expressions of interest comes after a briefing last month attended by construction companies, designers and other experts.

Ms Stephen-Smith said the call for the project’s potential design and construction partners represents the first phase of the procurement process.

“Through the collaborative early contractor involvement procurement model, we will work with our chosen partner to achieve excellence in design, teaming the latest advances in technology and construction to enhance the quality of healthcare available to all Canberrans,” she said.

“Ongoing consultation with clinicians, consumers and local residents will be a critical part of the process over the course of 2020 to ensure we deliver the best possible outcome for the Canberra community.”

The almost 40,000 square metre addition to the hospital campus will deliver more operating rooms, emergency treatment spaces and intensive care beds.

Expressions of interest close on Thursday, 19 December 2019, with the Territory’s delivery partner to be appointed mid-2020.

Plans were lodged last month for demolition of existing buildings and construction of the SPIRE project is due to start in 2021 with completion in 2024.

The Government is also dealing with concerns from Garran residents about the impact the relocation of the Emergency Department will have on traffic, particularly to do with children riding and walking to the nearby primary school.