Industry body urges Queensland government to provide clear direction on hospital rescue plan

The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) has welcomed the independent review of Queensland’s hospital Capacity Expansion Program (CEP) and the state government’s response. 

According to ACA CEO Jon Davies, the construction industry is already mobilised for the CEP, with many contractors focusing their resources on these projects. The ACA is now urging the government to provide clear direction and certainty across the pipeline for the next stages of the program.

The Queensland Government's hospital rescue plan aims to deliver three new hospitals, a new Queensland Cancer Centre, and 10 major hospital expansions across the State.

“Work is already underway. Contractors have structured their businesses around these projects – many have turned down other opportunities to focus on this program,” says Davies.

The industry body emphasised the need for strong collaboration between government and industry to implement the review’s recommendations efficiently, minimising delays and making the best use of available resources. 

Davies also highlighted the importance of coordinating the CEP with other major infrastructure projects, such as those related to the Olympics, to manage demand on construction resources and avoid unnecessary competition for labour and materials.

While rising costs are a challenge, ACA believes the program can still be delivered within budget by taking a smarter approach.

“Contractors have already identified practical design and construction efficiencies through value engineering,” Davies says. “We are ready to work with Health Infrastructure Queensland to put these savings into action without delay.”

The ACA also looks forward to contributing to the government’s upcoming review of infrastructure productivity, aiming to find ways to reduce costs and improve the delivery of public infrastructure projects such as the CEP.

Image: Hon Tim Nicholls MP announcing the hospital rescue plan (Supplied)