Tunnel to existing ED will be first works undertaken for Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment

The first part of the Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment to be built will be a temporary tunnel to gain access to the existing emergency department.

Last week, Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced that Multiplex was the successful tenderer to build the $122.7 million, long overdue project.

The government is still facing criticism about not being more specific with the time line, only saying that construction on the main works will commence in 2024.

The upgrade includes an expanded emergency department, new intensive care unit co-located with an improved high-dependency unit and an integrated mental health service.

A spokesperson for the minister said construction was not expected to disrupt the hospital’s normal operation or services. It could also not be confirmed how many extra beds would be in place once the upgrade was complete.

In a statement, Multiplex regional managing director Chris Palandri said the company was delighted to secure the contract and looked forward to delivering a world-class health asset.

“We’ve already been on the ground in Geraldton to start conversations with local industry and suppliers, and expect there will be a number of opportunities available for local workers and businesses as construction ramps up next year,” he said.

An Auditor-General’s report, released in October, revealed the hospital upgrade was already 58 months overdue — the longest time blow-out for a present-day major project in WA.

Shadow regional health minister Martin Aldridge said the project was based on meeting demand at 2025 levels, which means by the time it was finished — some time in 2027 — it was at risk of being obsolete.