New $31.5m Sarina hospital ready to open in 2023

The long-held dream of a better hospital for Sarina is almost here, with construction work well under way and a finish date set for 2023.

(From left to right) Site manager Tony Paull shows off the construction site for the new Sarina hospital to director of nursing Pauline Maude and nurse unit manager Tammi O’Shea. Picture: Contributed

Better health services are coming to Sarina with construction of the town’s new $31.5m hospital well under way and on track for completion next year.

Construction at the Brewer’s Rd site kicked off in February and works are on track for completion by mid to late 2023.

Woollam Constructions is leading the build for the new hospital which will increase capacity from 16 beds to 19 beds.

Mackay HHS executive director for public health and rural services Terry Johnson said the project was progressing well despite earlier weather delays.

(From left to right) Site manager Tony Paull shows off the construction site for the new Sarina hospital to director of nursing Pauline Maude and nurse unit manager Tammi O’Shea. Picture: Contributed

“We are all very excited about the construction of our new purpose-built hospital which will equip the Sarina community with a modern facility providing greater capacity and better facilities for all patients, as well as enhanced services including allied health and rehabilitation, all on a more accessible flat site,” Ms Johnson said.

“We can now see initial civil works have been completed and building frames and walls are going up.

“We expect to see the site transforming weekly now as we progress towards completion.”

The new Sarina Hospital under construction in 2022. Picture: Contributed

Sarina Hospital director of nursing Pauline Maude toured the site with nurse unit manager Tammi O’Shea and said it was a “hive of activity”.

“The frame of the main hospital building is up and block construction is well under way for the office, kitchen and engineering blocks,” she said.

“Additional drainage systems have also been installed.”

Construction work on the new Sarina Hospital is expected to wrap up in mid to late 2023. Picture: Contributed

The new hospital’s features include larger consultation rooms in emergency and outpatients and a purpose-built rehabilitation facility with a larger gym space.

Speaking in February, Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said the design would accommodate expected future growth in the region.

“What we need is something that is great for now and for a little bit of future growth in the Sarina area,” she said.

“As Queensland grows and we have so many people flooding into our great state, they’re going to want to come out to the regions, so we’ll need to start catering for the influx of people.”