The $115 million Maryborough and District Hospital redevelopment is taking shape as the project reaches ‘topping out’.

Topping out means the new hospital structure has reached its highest point. For us this was marked by the completion of the last concrete slab at level two, on schedule with the program.

Topping out brings us a step closer to the day we can begin to share this space with our community. Providing better access to primary and community health services and connecting more people with the care and treatment they need, closer to home.

We were very pleased to tour the site with Member for Ripon Martha Haylett to celebrate this milestone and see the progress. It was also a great opportunity to meet with some of the Fairbrother team who have been working exceptionally hard to deliver the build. It’s all hands on deck to bring this project to life.

Read more about the benefits of the Maryborough and District Hospital redevelopment.

Main image: A special visit from Martha Haylett Member for Ripon to celebrate ‘topping out’ with MDHS CEO Nickola Allan, MDHS Board Chair Kelly Mason, Adam Dudley Steelworks Site Foreman Adam Dudley and Fairbrother Project Manager James Atkinson.

Above: Level 2 at the top of the new hospital is materialising quickly.

What’s been happening?

The focus shifts inside

Since we reached the ‘topping out’ stage the focus has shifted from the main superstructure to the internals. The key features inside the hospital are beginning to come together. That means the partition framing for our internal walls has started and we have more of sub trades like electrical and plumbing contractors on site working to connect us with the essential services we need to deliver your health services.

If you’ve passed by the project recently you would have been able to catch a glimpse of all the activity. Not for much longer though as installation of the external walls has commenced. This is another milestone for the build, and will hide the internals from sight until our big reveal when the hospital opens.

Above left: First-year electrical apprentice Tayah Doyle and electrician Jarrod Delmenico, hard at work bringing the essential services we need to power the hospital in.

Above right: The frames for internal walls are being constructed and give us more of a feel for the flow of the space.

Car park works progressing

Works on our new mixed-use car park at the rear of the development are progressing well.

When complete, these works will improve parking and access for staff, patients and the community.

Above: Car park works are progressing well at the rear of the new hospital.

Parking and access updates

Entry to Maryborough Hospital is still via the main entrance on Clarendon Street, near the corner of Tuaggra Street, unless you are visiting Urgent Care or have an appointment at Medical Imaging. The Neill Street entrance remains closed to the public for safety reasons.

The short-term parking arrangements at the main entrance announced late last year remain in place to provide our dialysis patients with safe access to the hospital.

Two bays are available to the public for 20 minute parking on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Six are available all other days.

The area remains a drop-off zone. Follow the signage for where to park.

Other parking and drop-off points close by include:

• Off-street parking in the hospital car park, located off Clarendon Street at the north end
• Patient drop-off point outside the entrance to Urgent Care and Medical Imaging
• 30-minute short-term parking on Clarendon Street, near the Urgent Care entry
• Two hour short-stay parking on Neill, Clarendon, Florence and Palmerston streets
• All day parking is also available on Palmerston and Nightingale streets, and the west end of Neill Street.

Thank you for your cooperation as we navigate the build of a state-of-the-art hospital to build a healthier future for our community.

In other news

Tender released for behind-the-scenes upgrades

Following the announcement of $4.3 million in funding from the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF) in February, the tender for a builder to upgrade our behind the scenes services has been released to market, with submissions due early May. We hosted a site tour for builders as part of the submission process in early April.

This significant project will streamline efficiencies and drive improvements in logistical support services such as general and clinical waste management, linen supply, supply chain and maintenance.

Photo above left: Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas and Member for Ripon Martha Haylett with MDHS staff and board members celebrating the RHIF funding announcement.

Photo above right: MDHS Manager Procurement, Supply & Contracts Jess Jacka shows Minister Thomas through our bulk store during her visit in February. This is one of the areas set for a major revamp as part of the Support Services Logistics Project.

Above: Builders tour our back-of-house facilities with members of MDHS Executive, Project team and architects Harmer Architecture, as part of the tender process for the Support Services Logistics project.

More information – Stay connected

To stay up-to-date on the Maryborough and District Hospital redevelopment follow our Facebook page.

If you have any questions or wish to speak to the project team, feel free to reach out at vhba@health.vic.gov.au.

For more information about the project visit vhba.vic.gov.au or read the updates on our Maryborough and District Hospital redevelopment page.

For information on the Support Services Logistics Project, please contact the MDHS Project team at projectmanagementoffice@mdhs.vic.gov.au.