Updated: 26 August, 4:42pm

Despite the delayed appointment in the Shellharbour Hospital construction tender, BESIX has been welcomed by the local community. 

Shellharbour Deputy Mayor, Kellie Marsh expressed her concerns surrounding plans for a maternity sector, although services will be available, birthing will remain at Wollongong.

“Anna Watson promised that the new Shellharbour Hospital would have a maternity ward to support young families and a growing region. It’s disappointing that the Member for Shellharbour hasn’t delivered, and Ryan Park as Health Minister and Minister for the Illawarra has also come up short.” said Cr Marsh. 

“This new hospital is a once in a generation opportunity and we should ensure we get it right the first time.

Based on the most recent Family composition (FMCF) census, 61.4 percent of Shellharbour’s population have children. 

The site is set to occupy maternity services including midwifery-led clinics, doctor-led clinics, midwifery group practice (MGP) clinics and pre and post natal services, birthing will remain at Wollongong Hospital due to specialised services, equipment and staff taking residence within their facilities. 

Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward has commended Chris Minns for his acknowledgement of Ward’s contribution to securing the $700 million dollar funding for the site.

“At least Chris Minns had the decency to acknowledge who did the work to deliver the Metro project. Sadly, Ryan Park and Anna Watson don’t have the class and shamelessly took the credit last week for a project they didn’t fund,” Mr Ward said. 

However, Ward has detailed his disappointment with another design flaw the site is not due to see meaning our community could be drawing the short straw in life-threatening emergencies. 

“Labor have failed to ensure a helipad will be part of the new hospital when it opens in spite of the existing hospital having a helipad,” Ward said. 

“Their plan is to land emergency patients at Albion Park Airport and drive them along a busy highway, then on Dunmore Road through a busy school zone in order to deliver emergency patients to the hospital.

“In life-threatening emergencies, minutes matter and I don’t believe our community is getting the best possible deal.” 

Although construction plans prove to have accessibility for a future instalment of a helipad, there is no confirmed landing spot on the Dunmore Road site in the initial construction phase.

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Construction on the new Shellharbour Hospital site is due to commence following the appointment of the main works contractor. 

BESIX Watpac has been awarded the tender following a competitive process for the construction of the $780 million dollar project located on Dunmore Road. 

Member for Shellharbour, Anna Watson said that the new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project will work alongside the growing surrounding population.

“The new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services Project will cater for local population growth into the future and relieve pressure on other parts of the Illawarra Shoalhaven health network, including Wollongong Hospital,” MP Watson said

“The works will also help drive education and job opportunities for the Illawarra region, supporting around 800 direct jobs during construction, with the potential to support thousands of indirect jobs over the life of the project.”

The new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services Project will also include an expanded sub-acute services at Bulli Hospital alongside new rehabilitation and palliative care beds at Wollongong Hospital. 

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park, believes that through enhancing facilities at the new Shellharbour site and surrounding areas not only will it provide hundreds of job opportunities but also improve local health care. 

“I’m delighted that we have reached another milestone in this important project, which will deliver a suite of enhanced health care facilities for the residents of the Illawarra as well as hundreds of local jobs,” Minister Park said. 

“The new Shellharbour Hospital will ensure the local community has first class healthcare at their doorstep in state-of-the-art facilities.”

Concerns about the old Port Kembla site were raised amongst the community, however, laid to rest as announcements for a new community health care centre have been approved. 

Following the announcement of BESIX Watpac winning the tender, the approval of the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) will allow main area construction to begin. 

Establishing the site and finalising the designs for the new hospital, work is set to be completed in 2027.