Architectural team to work on $70M Bunbury Health Campus announced

15/11/95

Health Minister Graham Kierath and Works Minister Kevin Minson today announced  the successful consultant team to undertake architectural work on the planned $70 million Bunbury Health Campus.

Mr Kierath said that, when complete, the campus would provide comprehensive state-of-the-art medical services to people in Bunbury and the South-West.

"This project will provide a 130-bed public hospital, an 80-bed private hospital and a medical centre all in one location," the Minister said.

Mr Minson said that, after a competitive tender process facilitated by the Western Australian Building Management Authority, a team comprising Oldham Boas Eddie-Brown (Buchan Group) in association with Bateman Grundmann and Wilson (architects) and Peter Kesteven (health planner) had been awarded the contract.

"The value of the design commission is more than $1.9 million," Mr Minson said.

"The firms involved will design a full range of hospital services including inpatient, diagnostic and treatment facilities, an accident and emergency section, intensive care and general support and education facilities.

"The firms invited to tender for the architectural work on the project were Western Australian."

Mr Minson said he was pleased such a significant project for WA was to be designed by local talent.

"The campus, especially in the construction phase, should provide a significant boost to the Bunbury economy," he said.

Construction of the health campus would begin in 1996 and be completed early in 1998.

Mr Kierath said the Bunbury Health Service would manage the public hospital while the private facility would be run by the St John of God Health Care System. The campus would replace the Bunbury Regional Hospital and the present St John of God Hospital.

"Grouping the private and public facilities together will ensure expensive medical resources are better utilised and more accessible to the South-West community," he said.

"It is a facility for the whole region.

"Its location, on the Bunbury ring road adjacent to the Edith Cowan University, will be convenient for Bunbury residents while providing easy access for patients from other areas.

"Rather than having to travel to Perth, people in the region will have first-class medical facilities on their doorstep."

Media contact: Caroline Lacy  (09) 222 9595