Tender shows off designs for new Moranbah, Blackwater hospitals
The health crisis in coal country is set to ease with two new hospitals now out to tender. Here’s what the documents reveal.
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Better health services for two Central Queensland mining hubs will start with some destruction.
Recently released tender documents show the existing hospitals at Blackwater and Moranbah will be completely demolished to make way for improved facilities, with demolition booked for 2023 and the rebuilds due to be finished in 2024.
Moranbah residents and Bowen Basin miners will enjoy a new 11-bed inpatient ward alongside acute and non-acute spaces, general and clinical support areas, a centralised reception space, laundry, kitchen facilities and delivery area.
“The non-acute spaces will include consult rooms, resus bay, interview spaces and multi-purpose education,” the documents state.
“The acute spaces will include interview room, resus bays, mental health facilities and store.”
A new car park, entry ramp, ambulance bay and helipad is also in the design.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service, which covers Moranbah, said the helipad would reduce reliance on emergency services and make inter-hospital transfers more efficient.
The tender also includes six new one-bedroom units for staff accommodation.
The new Blackwater Multi-Purpose Health Service will include acute and non-acute spaces, general support and clinical support areas, a reception space, delivery area and a 10-bed inpatient ward.
“The non-acute spaces will include consult rooms, resus bay, interview spaces and multi-purpose education,” the documents state.
“The acute spaces will include interview room, resus bays and store.
“A new car park and entry ramp will be provided, along with a repurposing of the existing ambulance bay.”
The service’s existing helipad will be relocated for the new construction.
An exact cost figure for the Moranbah build is unclear, though sources have told the Daily Mercury the state government allocated $54m to the project in last year’s June budget.
The Moranbah and Blackwater hospitals are both covered by the government’s Building Rural and Remote Health Program, which received a $943.5m allocation.
Following December’s budget update, Treasurer Cameron Dick said he would funnel money earned from new coal royalty tiers to pay for the Moranbah hospital.
“These new royalties that were earned in regional Queensland will not leave regional Queensland,” he said.
The new royalties pumped an extra $2.95bn into the government’s coffers, far above an initial $765m projection.
The tender closes on January 27 and the winner will be announced on February 10.
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