Wagga Base Hospital: Milestone in upgrade marked with topping out ceremony

The multimillion-dollar upgrade of Wagga Base Hospital has reached an exciting stage allowing the facility to provide “world-class health services” to the region.

An artist’s impression of how the Wagga Health Service Redevelopment Stage Three would look like next to the hospital once complete in 2021. Picture: Murrumbidgee Local Health District.

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The $431 million Wagga Health Service Redevelopment has met a milestone with the stage three ambulatory care building reaching its highest point.

The completion of the building’s fifth and highest level was marked today with a traditional topping out ceremony.

A tree was placed on top of the stage three building to mark the milestone of completing the highest level. Picture: Toby Vue

Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC, said the purpose-built facility, which forms part of the overall Wagga Base Hospital upgrade, brought “world-class health services closer to home for the benefit of the Murrumbidgee communities”.

“This new building adjoins the 50 bed mental health unit built under stage one and the acute Wagga Wagga Base Hospital building completed under stage two,” she said.

“I look forward to see the actual final stage by the end of this year.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC, attended the ceremony today. Picture: Toby Vue

Wagga MP Dr Joe McGirr thanked all involved in the redevelopment.

“We know healthcare is about the people and the people who are being treated,” Dr McGirr said.

He said the placing of the tree on the roof was a fitting tribute to the building.

Construction is on track to open in 2021 and will include 20 additional services in aged care, mental health, drug and alcohol and staff administration. acute aged-care inpatient beds.

An artist’s impression of stage three of the Wagga Health Service Redevelopment. Picture: Murrumbidgee Local Health District

Stage three also includes a new education area, relocation of BreastScreen NSW services to central Wagga, 100 additional free car parks and landscaping on the campus.

Wiradjuri elder Aunty Dorothy Whyman, among other community representatives and leaders, also attended today’s event and delivered a Welcome to Country and acknowledgement of country.

Stages one and two of the Wagga Health Service Redevelopment were completed in 2013 and 2015, respectively.

The NSW Government is investing more than $900 million in health infrastructure for rural and regional areas in 2019-20.