An updated design for the expansion of Canberra Hospital has been announced by the Minister for Health.
The Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith said the updated SPIRE Project design was informed by discussions with the community, clinicians and consumer groups.
“The ACT Government has engaged with local residents, Garran Primary School and businesses to enable the local community to have its voice heard throughout the planning and development of the Canberra Hospital expansion,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“We have been listening and responding to community feedback and concerns throughout the SPIRE Project’s planning and design phase, we are actively addressing many of these through this update to the project’s design.”
She said amendments to the project’s design would ensure greater linkages between essential services; improve access to the emergency department via a new drop-off area; and reduce hospital-related traffic along local roads.
“We know that traffic flow and road safety are of particular interest to the Garran community,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“The revised design we are releasing will reduce hospital-related traffic near Garran Primary School along Kitchener Street and Gilmore Crescent.”
She said that following a competitive Expressions of Interest round, the ACT Government had shortlisted two applicants, inviting Lendlease and Multiplex to progress to the project’s Request for Tender process.
“The standard of the applicants in the initial Expressions of Interest phase was exceptionally high,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“It was encouraging to see industry heavyweights, such as the two shortlisted, so eager to be involved in building essential infrastructure in the ACT.”
