Early works are almost complete on the new Shellharbour Hospital, with the next phase of construction soon to begin on the more than $700 million project.
New South Wales Minister for Health, Ryan Park, and Member for Shellharbour, Anna Watson, visited the site to meet with workers and inspect the progress on the new hospital, which is being delivered as part of the more than $700 million new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project.
“It’s exciting to see significant progress being made for this new hospital, with the early works nearing completion,” Mr Park said.
“This brand-new hospital will be wonderful for both the community and the staff who will work here.
“Healthcare staff at the new Shellharbour Hospital will benefit from a broad range of measures the New South Wales Government is rolling out designed to strengthen the state’s health workforce, including safe staffing levels for nurses and midwives and improved salary packaging.
“I’m proud to be delivering major workforce reform so frontline healthcare workers are given the support they need to continue to deliver safe, high-quality care to patients.”
Federal Member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones, said community consultation has been vital in helping shape the new hospital.
“I’m pleased our community in the Illawarra is one step closer to having a new purpose-built health facility to meet healthcare needs now and into the future,” Mr Jones said.
“The Federal Government is proud to work in partnership with the New South Wales Government, and is providing $128 million for this much-needed state of the art hospital. I look forward to major works formally commencing soon.”
Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said the new hospital would serve the Illawarra Shoalhaven community for generations to come.
“The new Shellharbour Hospital will ensure our growing community and region will have greater access to the healthcare services they need,” Ms Watson said.
“This is a project that the community has long advocated for and I’m looking forward to seeing construction activity ramp up even more on site.”
Federal spokesperson for Kiama, Dr Sarah Kaine, welcomed the progress on the new Shellharbour Hospital.
“The greenfield site where we are building the state-of-the-art facilities from the ground up provides an opportunity to construct a new, sustainable and smart hospital, which will provide enhanced access to health services for the entire region,” Dr Kaine said.
“Once it opens in 2027, the new Shellharbour Hospital will be able to provide more care closer to home, reducing the need for people to travel out of the area for treatment which is a huge win for the people of the Kiama electorate.”
More than $700 million has been committed to the new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project, which includes $570.6 million from the New South Wales Government (including $23.3 million for a new car park), and a Federal Government contribution of $128 million.
The new Shellharbour Hospital will include:
- An expanded emergency department
- Increased surgical capacity
- 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
Hutchinson Builders was awarded the early works contract in 2023 to prepare the site for the new hospital, and the State Significant Development Application for the new hospital was lodged in September 2023.
Pending planning approval, the main works contract is expected to be awarded mid-year, with work to commence soon after. Construction of the new hospital is expected to be complete in 2027.
As part of the new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project, refurbishments were recently completed at Wollongong Hospital and Bulli Hospital to provide expanded rehabilitation and inpatient services in the Northern Illawarra region.
Planning is underway for a new community health centre to be delivered in Warrawong, on a section of the old Port Kembla Hospital site.
