Geraldton Hospital delays continue with State Government unable to procure tender

The timeline for the second stage of upgrades to Geraldton Health Campus remains unclear, with the State Government still not able to secure a tender for the project. In Parliament on September 1, Sue Ellery, representing the Minister for Health, was asked about delays to the hospital, and responded that the construction had been impacted by the pandemic. “The building and construction industry has experienced significant pressures due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “This has impacted the delivery of the $122 million Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment.” In June, a WA Health spokesperson said during Budget estimates that the government had been unable to find tenders within budget. Without a tender, an agreement with a company to carry out the upgrades, construction cannot start. Since then, the State Government has still not announced that it had locked in a tender. Shadow minister for regional heath Martin Aldridge slammed the State Government for the delays. “The State Government has blamed construction constraints, but the reality is that government coffers are overflowing and all the Geraldton community has to show after five years is a new car park and front entrance,” Mr Aldridge said. A State Government spokesperson said the upgrades would still be carried out. “The McGowan Government is committed to delivering the major upgrade to the Geraldton Health Campus for the people of the Mid West and Gascoyne,” they said. Stage 2 of upgrades to the Geraldton Health Campus would include an expanded emergency department, a new ICU and upgraded mental health facilities.