The concept design for the new Shellharbour Hospital has been released for a brief period of public consultation.

The new facility, on Dunmore Road just south of Shellharbour Anglican College, will replace the existing hospital on New Lake Entrance Road and provide:

• an expanded emergency department
• specialised elective surgery services
• rehabilitation and aged care services
• acute medical services
• expanded mental health services
• new drug and alcohol unit
• renal dialysis
• outpatients care services
• car parking and improved public transport links.

Main construction is scheduled to start in 2024, with an opening in 2027.

An aerial view of the Dunmore Rd site

“The new Shellharbour Hospital will be bigger and better with expanded services in beautiful surrounds and, importantly, the facility will be future proofed for the community,” said Health Minister Brad Hazzard on releasing the designs.

At this stage there has been no decision to create an entrance from the highway to the southern end of Dunmore Road, with the traffic study yet to be completed.

$720 million has been committed to the Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project - $570 from the NSW Government for the new hospital, a further $23.3 million committed for a new carpark, and an Australian Government contribution of $128 million. The project includes:

• an additional health facility in Bulli to accommodate further sub-acute services in the Northern Illawarra
• refurbishments at the Wollongong Hospital to accommodate Inpatient Units for specialised rehabilitation and palliative care services
• a brand new community health facility to be built in the Warrawong area.

While the design was only released on 30 November, the final information session will be held on Wednesday 7 December, from 10am-noon at Stockland Shellharbour (outside Woolworths). Other public engagement will occur as the project progresses.

Feedback is also welcome via the project website’s contact us page, or by emailing [email protected]