June 2002

Building milestone for Austin Hospital

The backbone of Australia's largest hospital project has been cemented with Health Minister John Thwaites overseeing the first concrete pour on the $325 million construction site at the Austin hospital.

Two hundred thousand cubic metres of earth have been removed–the equivalent of 50 Olympic swimming pools in the hole the size of the MCG—in preparation for the first concrete pads.

The redevelopment of the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre and the relocation of the Mercy Hospital for Women is currently the largest hospital project in Australia.

The project includes:

• A new acute 400-bed block, emergency department, operating theatres and intensive and critical care units;

• New and expanded mental health facilities, psychiatric services and veterans’ health facilities;

• A new Mercy Hospital for Women with 106 beds, 62 neonatal cots, 17 delivery rooms and four operating theatres;

• A 1200-space, four-level basement car park.

Mr Thwaites said the four-storey, 1200 space car park structure was due to be completed in early 2003.

Construction would then start on the new A&RMC hospital and the new Mercy Hospital for Women.

‘These two new towers will be complete by late 2004.

‘The focus will then turn to refurbishment at both the Austin and Repatriation campuses.

‘This $325 million project will bring together two of Victoria's finest public hospitals on the one site providing world class acute and specialist facilities.

The project is being managed by construction company Baulderstone Hornibrook.

It took 21 trucks a total of 80 days (making seven trips a day) to remove the earth to allow the concrete pour to begin.