The Queensland Government has released a 15-year master plan designed by Hassell for the expansion of Mackay Base Hospital.
Prepared with Health Infrastructure Queensland and Mackay Hospital and Health Service, the master plan sets out a staged programme of new buildings and refurbishments across the existing hospital campus.
Architecture and design practice Hassell said the phased approach will enable the campus to accommodate changes in healthcare delivery, technology and demand. New and existing facilities will be connected as successive stages are built.
The practice said the design also responds to Mackay’s tropical climate and regional setting, but has not released details of the measures involved.
Stage 1 will add at least 128 beds
The first stage of the expansion will add at least 128 overnight beds and expand emergency, maternity, birthing, surgical, endoscopy, neonatal and paediatric services.
A new clinical services building, known as P Block, will connect to the existing hospital. It will house medical wards, maternity and women’s health services, surgical and interventional facilities and a rooftop helipad.
Stage 1 also includes the Mackay Birth Centre, additional parking and the refurbishment and expansion of existing services.
A multi-storey staff car park will have up to 1,000 spaces when fully developed and include administration facilities. Moving staff vehicles to the new building is expected to make more existing hospital parking available to patients and visitors.
Construction is forecast to begin in 2027, with Stage 1 due for completion in 2030.
Further development proposed beyond 2031
Across the 15-year programme, the hospital has identified two new operating theatres, three new endoscopy suites and a new sterilising department. Kitchen, mortuary, biomedical technology and equipment-storage facilities are also due to be expanded.
P Block will include zones where additional facilities can be built in later phases.
Proposals beyond 2031 include further clinical buildings, a mental health facility, a central energy facility and a building for administration, education, training and research. A public multi-storey car park is also planned.
These later projects remain subject to Queensland Government priorities and funding approval.
Earlier expansion’s forecast cost more than doubled
The hospital expansion was originally announced in June 2022 with a budget of A$250m. BESIX Watpac was appointed as the Stage 1 managing contractor in May 2023, when practical completion was expected in December 2026.
A subsequent independent review commissioned by the Queensland Government estimated the project cost at A$520m, an increase of A$270m on the original budget.
The review attributed the increase to additional infrastructure and support-service requirements, ground conditions, cultural heritage discoveries, asbestos and regional subcontractor pricing. Technology, consultancy and internal project costs that had not previously been included also contributed to the revised estimate.
The newly released master plan places Stage 1 construction between 2027 and 2030.
