After nearly two years of major works, construction at Shellharbour’s new hospital has reached its highest point. Photo: Health Infrastructure.
The new Shellharbour Hospital has marked a major milestone in construction with the highest point of the structure completed and the project still on track to be finished before the end of next year.
A symbolic ceremony at the top of the eight-storey hospital at Dunmore represented a new stage in the more than $828 million project’s construction, with the highest structural point officially reached.
“This milestone means we are one step closer to the hospital opening its doors, providing a much-needed uplift to health services in the region,” NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said.
“The new hospital forms part of more than $1 billion in health infrastructure investments across the region, including Shoalhaven, Shellharbour, Wollongong and Milton Ulladulla, helping to ensure people have access to world-class care closer to home.”
Progress in the coming months will shift to focus on the external works to install the facade of the building as well as the internal fit-out, which Mr Park said would include nearly 200 more treatment rooms than the current Shellharbour Hospital.
The broad range of services to be offered include an expanded emergency department, specialised elective surgery services, rehabilitation and aged care service, a paediatric assessment unit, acute medical services, expanded mental health services, a new drug and alcohol unit, renal dialysis services and outpatient care services.
There will also be a rooftop helipad, which was not in the original commitment.
Maternity services including midwifery-led clinics, doctor-led clinics, midwifery group practice (MGP) clinics, and pre- and post-natal care are also set to be included, but there is still no commitment for birthing suites with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District website saying that ‘birthing will remain at Wollongong Hospital due to the specialist services and staff that are required to maintain a safe birthing facility’.
“The new hospital will provide expanded emergency, mental health, surgical and rehabilitation services, giving local families better access to care closer to home,” Shellharbour MP Anna Watson said.
“I am pleased to see the progress being made and proud to be part of a government delivering this important investment for Shellharbour and the wider Illawarra.”
The sod on major works was turned in October 2024, with the project planned for completion in late 2027.
It will open in stages as services transition from the existing hospital, but has also been designed to include future expansion zones to support service growth and increasing demand right across the region.
“For the community in the Kiama electorate this represents an exciting new chapter in accessible regional healthcare, taking us one step closer to a hospital that will deliver for the current and future needs of our community,” Kiama MP Katelin McInerney said.
“This project represents the single largest investment in a regional hospital in NSW’s history and reflects commitment of the Minns Labor Government to ensuring regional residents receive accessible, quality healthcare close to home.”
The project has been jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth governments, with BESIX Watpac as the principal contractor.
Construction updates are available on the Health Infrastructure website.
Original Article published by Keeli Dyson on Region Illawarra.
