Project overview
Wrights Rd, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
The NSW Government has committed $265 million for a mechanical and infrastructure upgrade to the Port Macquarie Base Hospital. This represents the largest upgrade at Port Macquarie Base Hospital since it was built in 1994.
The project will deliver new and upgraded patient accommodation to support high quality health care and future growth.
Key features include a new four-storey inpatient unit building, an expansion of the Emergency Department, and fit out of new Maternity and Neonatal Units. Essential upgrades to the mechanical systems across existing hospital buildings will also be delivered.
In February 2025, Turner & Townsend were announced as the Project Manager, and Altus Group as the Cost Manager for the project. Silver Thomas Hanley (STH) has been appointed as the successful architect.
Project User Groups with staff are underway. The project is in the design stage and information will continue to be shared as it progresses.
Project Information
Scope
- Expansion of and refurbishment of the Emergency Department, increasing capacity and improving patient flow to meet growing demand for emergency services
- New maternity and neonatal care inpatient units with modern, family-centred facilities to support parents, babies and families
- A new four-storey inpatient unit block to replace ageing infrastructure with contemporary, flexible spaces for contemporary inpatient care
- Essential upgrades to the mechanical systems across existing hospital buildings
Benefits
- Provide contemporary facilities to support best practice models of care.
- Provide patients, families and carers with a contemporary facility to meet the health needs of the community now and in the future.
- Improve accessibility to an expanded range of health services, including emergency, and maternity services.
- Deliver modern maternity services expanding birthing options for the local community.
- A modern hospital which creates a better working environment for staff with state-of-the-art facilities, improved efficiency, and greater job satisfaction, leading to better patient care.
News and updates
Community invited to help shape arts and culture
Community members from the Mid North Coast are invited to contribute to the arts and culture planned for the Port Macquarie Base Hospital Upgrade, with Expressions of Interest now open for the project’s Arts Working Group.
Site plans released for Port Macquarie Base Hospital upgrade
A new multi‑storey inpatient unit will be the centrepiece of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital upgrade, with site plans released giving the community its first look at the transformation of their local hospital.
Frequently asked questions
Building a new health facility involves three key phases: Planning, Design and Delivery. The Port Macquarie Base Hospital Mechanical and Clinical Infrastructure Upgrade Project is currently in the master planning and concept design stage.
Project User Groups (PUGs), including health service clinical staff representatives, will inform the design of physical spaces and make recommendations as to how they will work. Participation from user groups is important in the development of the design to ensure staff, patients and community representatives have input into the infrastructure.
Community consultation will also take place throughout planning and design, including the master plan, concept design, schematic design and statutory planning approvals. Information sessions and workshops will provide staff and the community an opportunity to be consulted throughout the various stages of the redevelopment.
Stakeholder feedback will be incorporated into the preferred design options to provide the optimal vision for the new spaces.
Designing with Country is an important element in the project and local First Nation’s Elders and Aboriginal representatives will be consulted to contribute to the design through focus groups and the establishment of a Connecting with Country Advisory Group.
Health Infrastructure encourages the use of local subcontractors and staff as appropriate and where available. There will be opportunities for local people to work on the project during construction and these will be advertised by the Main Works contractor after they have been appointed.
Under the NSW Government’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP), the building contractor will be required to create a minimum level of Aboriginal employment opportunity throughout the project delivery nominated as part of the tender process.
All current services will continue at Port Macquarie Base Hospital during the construction stage. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption, and the community will be informed of any planned changes.
Information and progress will be shared through project updates and newsletters, social and print media, and the Health infrastructure and Mid North Coast Local Health District website. A dedicated project noticeboard will also be established at the hospital.
They will be demolished once the new IPU building is complete as part of a staged approach and replaced with landscaping.
Project documents
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