State Budget delivers money for Kalgoorlie Hospital redevelopment

20/5/02
The State Government has allocated $1.69million in this year's State Budget to complete the redevelopment of Kalgoorlie Hospital.
Health Minister Bob Kucera said the $6million development, which included the upgrade of special care facilities and alteration to wards, the emergency department and accommodation, would be completed in the coming financial year.
"The State Government has also allocated more than $1.7million to be spent on staff accommodation in Kalgoorlie, Laverton, Leonora and Ravensthorpe as part of a $4.6million State-wide program for rural and remote clinical staff accommodation," Mr Kucera said.
"The capital works program for the Goldfields recognises the need to increase the availability of staff accommodation in rural and remote areas.
"Building new accommodation and upgrading facilities for both doctors and nurses, will help the Goldfields and Esperance regions attract and retain staff."
Funds have also been allocated for the $3.9million replacement of Ravensthorpe Hospital, which will go to tender this month.
Mr Kucera said the State Government had allocated more than $20million to regional and rural capital works across the State - representing a 30 per cent increase on the current year's total of $15.4million.
"This funding is part of a major commitment to spending $145million on capital works in country WA," he said.
"The State-wide capital works program includes 52 current and new projects worth $109 million, with 27 of these being undertaken in regional WA."
The Goldfields will also benefit from a range of other State-wide projects, including:

• increased funding for specialist services and allied health initiatives;
• enhanced aged care provision;
• drug and alcohol initiatives;
• the expansion of community health facilities;
• mental health initiatives;
• rural theatre upgrades; and
• new and upgraded organ imaging equipment.