The State's Premier climbed the heady heights of the Goulburn Base Hospital redevelopment on Monday for a 'topping up' ceremony.
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With hardly a puff after scaling seven flights, Gladys Berejiklian declared that $150 million project had reached its 20-metre maximum construction height.
Construction company Hansen Yuncken is undertaking the state government funded redevelopment.
"(It) will see a new, modern health facility built that will service the Goulburn community now and into the future," Ms Berejiklian said.
"This $150 million investment has also brought nearly 500 new construction jobs to the region, helping to stimulate the local economy."
The Premier said it was pleasing to see young apprentices onsite and local people contracted on the work.
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She was joined by Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman, Southern NSW Local Health District CEO Margaret Bennett and Mayor Bob Kirk.
While the exterior structure and concrete floors had taken shape, the new four-storey clinical services building, wouldn't be finished until the end of the 2021, Mr Hazzard said.
It will include emergency and medical imaging departments; intensive care unit; operating theatres, day surgery and recovery areas; medical, surgical, paediatric, rehabilitation and geriatric inpatient units with designated palliative care beds; and maternity unit and ambulatory paediatric and antenatal clinics.
Community Health will also be expanded.
Mr Hazzard said in the wake of coronavirus, the emphasis had to be on having a "central place with capacity and appropriate skill sets" to meet modern health needs.
The new hospital, which adjoins the existing one, will also include strong emphasis on virtual health for inpatients and those requiring treatment at home.
Mr Hazzard told The Post that the project remained within the $150 million budget and was ahead of schedule. He said the progress was a huge achievement given coronavirus.
In January, 2019, the state government allocated an extra $30 million to the project, saying it was for renal and cancer services. At the time, the Premier rejected Labor suggestions there was a budget shortfall.
The work comes amid a Southern NSW Local Health District restructure.
Asked how this would impact the new hospital's operation, Mr Hazzard said the board was working through staffing issues across the Health District.
"They've been good enough to run those past me and I've certainly given my approval for their work," he said.
"It is not about saving money but making sure it's directed to the areas needed. There has been no decrease in funding. It's about putting in place the staffing the board think is needed."
The Premier would not commit to giving nurses across the state a 2.5 per cent pay rise, saying she would await the outcome of an Industrial Relations hearing into the matter.
Meantime, Ms Tuckerman said while Monday was only a "topping up" ceremony, it was a significant chapter in the redevelopment.
"It's about delivering state-of-the-art health facilities to Goulburn and region and it's probably long overdue," she said.
Ms Bennett told The Post that one of the main benefits would be co-location of currently dispersed health services.
"We'll be talking about those moves and timeframes this time next year," she said.
"The new hospital isn't due for completion until the end of 2021 and that will be followed by commissioning. There is a lot of planning to do before we start moving patients."
Ms Bennett repeated assurances that no Bourke Street Health Services would move until the new hospital was finished.
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As for whether the hospital would retain a temporary car park for construction vehicles on the corner of Mount and Fitzroy Streets, she said this was not up to Health but would be discussed with the Department of Education, which owned the land.
The hospital is expected to be opened to patients in early 2022.
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