Page 53 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 14 February 2012
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part of the new hospital, offering families a home away from home. Families will have the chance to meet others facing similar situations, share their experience and give each other support. I note that there will be some fundraising efforts to support the Ronald McDonald House completion over the next few months across the ACT.
MR HARGREAVES: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: Chief Minister, what is the purpose of having a stage 1 and a stage 2 in constructing a hospital, and what is included in stage 2?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mr Hargreaves for his question. To ensure minimal disruption to existing services, the development has been scheduled in two stages: the significant extension adjacent to the existing maternity building and then the refurbishment of that building as stage 2. When stage 1 is completed, some parts of paediatrics currently located in the main tower block will move into the new building. Additionally, all of the existing services in the current maternity building will be relocated into the new building.
This then frees up space in the current maternity building to allow it to be completely refurbished, which forms stage 2 of the construction. The existing maternity building will undergo a major revamp, including the removal of all internal fitouts and stripping the building back to a concrete frame, as well as removal and replacement of the facade. The existing building is to be completely refitted, while stage 2 works will also include new landscape and civil works leading to the forecourt of the pathology building and the new facility. At the completion of stage 2 the remainder of paediatrics will be relocated to the refurbished maternity building while some areas that have previously moved in stage 1 will have the opportunity to expand into stage 2, allowing for growth.
It has been exceptionally disappointing to hear the Liberals constantly talking down this project. I know it is one that will be welcomed by a lot of families in the ACT and in surrounding New South Wales. It is a very positive project—one that would not have been dreamed of by the Liberal Party, the party that blew up the hospital and removed a hundred beds from the system. This is about building new facilities, state of the art, for women, babies and children, to get the best care possible at the Canberra Hospital. It is a difficult project in the sense that it is a brownfields redevelopment, and we must keep our services going. But the team out there, including Leighton, who are building it, are doing a great job.
MR HANSON: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, after the debacle of the AMC opening, why should people trust you this time that your election eve opening is not just another sham, and is there any major health project that is both on time and on budget?
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