Mackay Base Hospital expansion scheduled for late 2026: D’Ath

The health minister says three new hospitals plus nine hospital expansions across Queensland will be delivered sooner due to an ‘efficient, transparent, competitive and fair’ process.

Patients are frustrated by the lack of available parking at Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Heidi Petith

The expected delivery date for a $250 million expansion to Mackay Base Hospital has been brought forward as the state government spruiks its $8 billion health spending spree.

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Yvette D’Ath issued a statement revealing the hospital’s expansion would deliver 128 additional patient beds by the second half of 2026, instead of the formerly slated 2026-2027 completion date.

The Mackay announcement, as well as eight other planned expansions and three new hospitals across the state, comes amid mounting criticism of the Palaszczuk government’s management of Queensland Health, including Central Queensland’s embattled maternity services.

Ms D’Ath said the acceleration was due to its creation of a major construction companies supply panel under its Queensland Health and Hospitals Plan, which had short-listed 12 contractors.

“These projects will deliver 1980 additional beds across Queensland over the next six years, contributing to a total of 3378 additional beds the Palaszczuk government is delivering over the same period,” she said.

“In regional Queensland, works include new hospitals in Bundaberg and Toowoomba and major expansions of Townsville, Cairns and Mackay hospitals.

“In the southeast, works include a new hospital in Coomera and six major expansions of Redcliffe, Ipswich, Logan, QEII, Princess Alexandra and Prince Charles hospitals.

“The building contractor shortlist of 12 was established based on an expression of interest process and through Queensland Health’s broader engagement with industry.

“This engagement has meant the tender process to-date has been efficient, transparent and ultimately, competitive and fair.”

Ms D’Ath said successful tenderers still had to finalise designs for the “contemporary health facilities” in collaboration with the Department of Health’s new Health Capital Division, which partners with local Hospital and Health Services.

“I look forward to working together to deliver better health services for all Queenslanders,” she said.

Contracts are expected to be announced from April 2023 after a tender process of up to 12 weeks.

Meanwhile tenders recently closed to build the new Moranbah and Blackwater Hospitals by the end of 2024, both of which are within the Mackay Hospital and Health Service fold. A winner will be announced for these projects in early February.

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