The Northern Rivers Times Newspaper Edition 110

PROJECT TEAM APPOINTED TO OVERSEE REDEVELOPMENT OF GRAFTON BASE HOSPITAL

PHOTO L-R: Grafton Base Hospital Community Committee (GBHCC) member Phil Belletty, Chief Executive of Health Infrastructure - Rebecca Wark, Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor, GBHCC members Ron Bell & Des Harvey & Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis.

The $263.8 million NSW Nationals in Government’s commitment to redevelop Grafton Base Hospital has taken a key step forward with the appointment of the project team to oversee the redevelopment, Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis has announced. Mr Gulaptis said the NSW Government’s investment in the major redevelopment of the hospital will provide new facilities and upgraded clinical services to transform health outcomes and experiences for patients, their families, and staff into the future.

“An experienced team of project managers, architects and cost managers who have worked on a range of health infrastructure projects in both metro and regional areas have been engaged to progress master planning for the Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment to ensure the best possible health care solutions are delivered for the region,” Mr Gulaptis said. “This appointment marks a key milestone in the advancement of healthcare for Grafton and the wider Clarence Valley to ensure we have the best possible

state-of-the-art hospital to support the local community’s health needs now and into the future. “There has been strong local community support for the redevelopment and I’m delighted to see this project progress to this very important next step. The project team was appointed following a competitive tender process and includes:

• Mace Projects & PWC as the Project Managers

• Woods Bagot & HDR as the Architect

• Altus Group as the Cost Manager. Minister for Regional

Health Bronnie Taylor said the immediate focus for the team will be developing the master plan with planning to commence in coming weeks. “With the project team now on board, we will be consulting with key stakeholders including medical clinicians, staff, patients and the local community to inform the project’s planning and design,” Mrs Taylor said. “The Clinical Services Plan for the Clarence Valley region is also being finalised by the Northern NSW Local Health District which informs the services and facilities and

future timelines of the redevelopment.” Last week Mr Gulaptis, Minister Taylor and Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole met with members of Grafton Base Hospital Community Committee to discuss the project and keep them abreast of the next steps. In coming months there will be opportunities for staff, clinicians, patients and the broader community to have input on shaping the redevelopment as the project progresses. The $263.8 million Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment is part of

the Nationals in NSWGovernment’s record$11.9 billion investmentin health infrastructureover four years to 2025-26, with nearly a third ofthe capital allocation inthis financial year goingtowards regional andrural health facilities.Since 2011, thegovernment hasdelivered more than180 hospitals and healthfacilities across NSW,with more than 130currently underway – ofthose, more than 90 arein rural and regionalareas.