Major Milestone For New Bundaberg Hospital

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services The Honourable Tim Nicholls
  • CPB Contractors have signed a new and improved agreement to deliver the new Bundaberg Hospital.
  • The new deal delivers better value for Queensland taxpayers made possible by the Crisafulli Government’s decision to axe Labor’s CFMEU tax.
  • Stage 1 of the project will deliver more than 200 beds and treatment areas focused on acute services and clinical priorities.
  • The Crisafulli Government’s fully funded Hospital Rescue Plan is healing Labor’s Health Crisis and delivering health services when you need them.

The Crisafulli Government is building Queensland’s future, with CPB Contractors signing an improved deal at the new Bundaberg Hospital, one of Queensland’s largest health infrastructure projects, in a key milestone under the Hospital Rescue Plan. CPB is confirmed as the preferred contractor to power ahead with works ahead of construction of Stage 1, which will deliver more than 200 beds and treatment areas by 2031.

Thanks to the Crisafulli Government’s axing of Labor’s CFMEU tax, the new Early Contractor Involvement contracting model is delivering more value for money after Labor’s rigid approach saw costs skyrocket and projects significantly delayed – ultimately contributing to the $7 billion in budget blowouts across their failed Capacity Expansion Program.

The new project agreement will deliver greater value for taxpayers through improved risk sharing, clearer scope, greater price certainty and more opportunities for local subcontractors to help build the hospital.

Once complete, the new Bundaberg Hospital will provide more than 410 beds and treatment spaces, including at least 139 additional overnight beds, a larger emergency department, expanded outpatient, diagnostic and surgical services, more operating rooms and a rooftop helipad.

Main works construction will commence later this year with lift cores and the first ground slab poured by the end of the year.

Today’s milestone follows the Crisafulli Government’s decision to scrap Labor’s failed Capacity Expansion Program after an independent review exposed years of mismanagement, lengthy delays, billions of dollars in cost blowouts and significant design flaws.

In Bundaberg, Labor’s proposal would have split hospital services across two campuses, retained major services on a flood-prone site and burdened the local Hospital and Health Service with up to $200 million in additional operating costs every year.

The Crisafulli Government also scrapped Labor’s CFMEU tax – or BPICs – which imposed up to $38.6 billion in direct and indirect costs on Queensland taxpayers since 2018. Today’s announcement follows the appointment of the main works contractor for the new Toowoomba Hospital earlier this year and demonstrates the Crisafulli Government’s fully funded Hospital Rescue Plan is building Queensland’s future and delivering easier access to health services.

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