Dunedin’s update was announced today by Health Minister Simeon Brown as part of a national infrastructure plan.
The hospital project was robbed amidst cost blows, curses and prolonged contract negotiations with the Australian construction CPB.
Brown said today that the government would start working at the foundations while commercial negotiations continue in the main contract.
He said the government began a bidding process for the next stage of the construction of the New Dunedin Hospital hospital building, with works to recommend the old Cadbury site from mid -year.
An advanced warning was placed on the government’s competition website, seeking to complete the building’s understructure.
“Substructure is the vital base of the main hospital structure that will follow and includes the installation of the lower slab, concreting and penalties for base insulators.
“The limit of the 324 batteries on site will begin in the mid -year, followed by work in the basement perimeter to form the base of the substructure.
“The third part of the process will be installing base isolators and then the structure of the main construction.
“The work continues to ensure that the design of the hospital building offers health services effectively for next generations.
“In the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing the hospital’s physical progress by taking the next mid -year steps after the contest is granted.”
The update also included a private funding mention for health project parking lots, including one for the New Dunedin Hospital.
As part of the broader announcement, Brown promised investments in rural hospitals and hubs would include a new rural center to the southern region.
No more details were provided.
Brown establishes an infrastructure plan
Brown said the government’s infrastructure plan – a unique and long -term plan that establishes a clear health -infrastructure pipeline – was the first for New Zealand.
“Our health system is under significant pressure from aging infrastructure that has not followed the needs of a growing and aged population.
“The average age of our public health heritage – 1,274 buildings in 86 campuses – is about 47 years old. This is creating some significant challenges.
Buildings that require great corrective work to avoid interruption of service.
Facilities with bad bad ratings or serious risk of compliance.
Outdated infrastructure that unable to support modern care models.
Brown said the state of New Zealand’s health infrastructure is not a new challenge, but a problem that has developed over several decades. Addressing this requires a long -term plan to renew the existing capacity and invest in new facilities, to meet future demand and ensure that New Zealands continue to receive high quality care.
“The Health Infrastructure Plan identifies the investment more than $ 20 billion necessary to meet future health needs and introduces a more efficient way to provide large hospital projects, called ‘Building Hospital Better’.
“Instead of building unique and large-scale structures, the plan proposes a staged approach-foresting and more manageable facilities in the phases.
“This will mean that patients will benefit from modern health environments earlier, while providing greater certainty about deadlines and delivery costs.
The plan described a comprehensive and phased program of hospital development and facilities across the country to be delivered in three to four stages.
“This includes new new constructions and expansions across the country, with new acute services buildings, hospitalization units, expanded departments and wards and up -to -date facilities.
“It also includes the planning and initial construction of the new hospital announced in South Auckland-A critical investment for one of the fastest growing regions in the country.”
