John Holland Secures Managing Contractor Role for Toowoomba Hospital

John Holland has been selected as the Managing Contractor for Stage 1 of the highly anticipated Toowoomba Hospital project, valued at $1.3 billion. The announcement was made by Queensland Premier Annastascia Palaszczuk, who emphasized the crucial role of new and upgraded hospitals in the state’s ambitious $89 billion infrastructure initiative known as the Big Build.

The Toowoomba Hospital project is the first of three hospitals to be awarded as part of the Queensland Health and Hospitals Plan’s Capacity Expansion Program, which has a budget of $9.78 billion. This state-of-the-art facility will offer an additional 118 beds across various units, including medical, surgical, maternity, coronary, and intensive care departments.

Situated on the Baillie Henderson Hospital campus, the Toowoomba Hospital will feature comprehensive services, such as emergency treatment spaces, outpatient consultation rooms, and diagnostic facilities. It will also house medical imaging, pharmacy, and pathology services, alongside administrative, educational, and training amenities for the hospital staff.

Shannon Fentiman, Queensland’s Minister for Mental Health, Health, and Ambulance Services, expressed the significance of the $9.78 billion investment in delivering enhanced healthcare infrastructure and hospital beds throughout the state. Fentiman acknowledged the importance of the Toowoomba region as a central hub for several rural and regional communities in the Darling Downs area, making this investment all the more crucial.

Fentiman highlighted that the new hospital will meet the growing population’s healthcare needs and reduce the requirement for patients to seek specialized care outside the region. By bringing a range of health services closer to home, the community will have improved accessibility to essential healthcare for many years to come.

The Toowoomba Hospital project is expected to generate approximately 3,120 jobs during the construction phase, providing a significant boost to the local economy. Annette Scott, Chief Executive of Darling Downs Health and Hospital Service, emphasized that the Baillie Henderson campus is swiftly evolving into a modern healthcare hub for the region.

Scott revealed that a $20 million early works package is currently underway to prepare the site for major construction, set to commence next year. Additionally, progress is being made on the Toowoomba Day Surgery project, which is projected to be completed by the first quarter of 2024.

Scott also stressed the importance of modern facilities in attracting medical professionals and positioning the healthcare organization as a preferred destination for health service professionals. With ongoing infrastructure projects in Toowoomba, Tara, Millmerran, and the recently completed hospital in Kingaroy, the region is establishing itself as an appealing and well-equipped healthcare provider.

“This is a landmark project that requires meticulous execution, and I welcome today’s announcement, looking forward to the continued progress we’ve made,” Scott concluded.

The Toowoomba Hospital project marks a significant step towards meeting the healthcare needs of the Darling Downs region while contributing to the broader infrastructure development goals of Queensland’s Big Build initiative.