Page 4567 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 26 November 2019
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procurement process for the SPIRE project. The territory’s delivery partner will be appointed by mid-2020.
The SPIRE project is being procured under an early contractor involvement model. Under this approach, the appointed contractor will work collaboratively with the territory to design and deliver the project, jointly identifying opportunities to improve design outcomes, optimise constructability and deliver whole-of-life cost efficiencies. During 2020, other enabling works projects will be delivered to allow the site for the new facility to be vacated and physical works to commence in early 2021.
These projects will create many local jobs and will provide opportunities for Canberra companies to contribute to the critical process of preparing the Canberra Hospital campus for the main construction phase of the SPIRE project.
The progress being made on this project does not stop there. Design of the almost 40,000 square metre facility is also being progressed, with input from clinicians, consumers and the community, particularly through the recent announcement of a community reference group.
With enabling works, procurement, consultation and design works now well underway, we are seeing important and tangible advancements being made on this important project, the biggest investment in health infrastructure since self-government.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, could you provide more information in relation to the community reference group?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Cheyne for her supplementary question and her interest in our engagement with the community. The ACT government strives to deliver high-quality, person-centred care in the right place at the right time. Our commitment to this objective is evidenced by the work underway to expand Canberra Hospital to include a new emergency, surgical and critical healthcare facility. The SPIRE project is an important and complex healthcare project for all Canberrans and it is essential that the territory work closely with clinicians, consumers and the local community to get it right.
Community reference groups, or CRGs, are a common part of large infrastructure projects. Last week I opened the call for nominations for a local CRG to ensure that residents have their voices heard throughout the planning and development of the SPIRE project. This will be an important mechanism for the community to provide comment and feedback, while also recognising the importance of ongoing engagement with the broader community.
The establishment of a local community reference group, which will hold its first meeting early in the new year, will complement the conversations already underway with the project’s clinical user groups, specialist clinical advisory group and consumer reference group. It will also provide a conduit for Major Projects Canberra and Health to provide information back to the community as we see people joining this group who have good community engagement, and making this a two-way street.
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