HEALTH Minister John Day and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman visited Collie last week to visit the works on the $7.8 million redevelopment of the Collie Health Service.
BCG Constructions had won the tender for the main works, and the health service is to remain fully operational during construction.
“This investment will provide improved facilities for patients in need of immediate care, with the
staged program of works including a major refurbishment of the Emergency Department, plus
a new administration centre and hospital entry,” Mr Day said.
“It is expected the $7.8 million revamp will support up to 200 jobs during construction.”
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said Royalties for Regions was investing in
strategic regional health initiatives to enhance health care in country WA.
"The latest health infrastructure supports health services that help deliver modern, efficient and
interconnected patient diagnoses and care," Mr Redman said.
"Once completed the new Collie Health Service will help attract and retain medical and nursing
staff, building a skilled workforce to meet the growing needs of the Collie community."
The redevelopment of the Collie Health Service is being undertaken as part of the Southern
Inland Health Initiative's $300 million capital works program to improve hospitals and health
services in 37 towns across the Wheatbelt, Great Southern, Midwest and South West. The
capital works program is one component of the half a billion dollar Southern Inland Health
Initiative made possible by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program.
The Collie project will occur in three stages: Stage 1, due for completion by August 2016,
involves fit out of the new administration addition, ambulance entry, equipment and medical
stores; Stage 2 involves the Emergency Department refurbishment, including new reception
and triage areas, waiting areas and treatment bays; Stage 3 includes the completion of the
Emergency Department refurbishment.
Mr Redman said the redevelopment was essential to continue to provide a top quality health service to the area.
“People make decisions as to where they live around health services, if they haven’t got access to health services they will shift,” he said.
“We want to make sure regional Western Australia is well services from a health perspective.”
“To have these services in Collie ensures that Collie has a strong and solid future.”
“Having a quality health facility means that they will stay, particularly as they get in to their older years, and in the south west in particular there is an older ageing demographic.”
Mr Redman said the Liberal-National government would support Collie through any future changes to industry.
“Hopefully, as the Shire is driving very hard, people choose to come and live in this area because of the beautiful amenities that it has,” he said.
“The Liberal-National government supports Collie, we wouldn’t be making investments like this in to this hospital if we didn’t support Collie.”
Construction is due to be completed in June 2017.
