Albany Health Campus is set to benefit from $584,000 worth of infrastructure improvement works through the new priority hospital maintenance blitz to help stimulate the local economy.
Improvement works will include:
- second stage roof replacement for Block B;
- roofing works and repairs;
- redesign and reconstruction of the adult mental health unit and courtyard; and
- plumbing and water service upgrades.
Across regional WA more than $37 million will also be allocated to regional health services for works including $4.58 million towards the Great Southern region for improvements such as:
- fire services upgrades at Ravensthorpe, Gnowangerup and Kojonup;
- refurbishment works at Mount Barker, Kojonup, Albany, Katanning and Tambellup;
- roofing works at Mount Barker, Gnowangerup, Kojonup, Ravensthorpe and Albany; and
- electrical works at Katanning and Gnowangerup.
Works will be conducted across regional health facilities, prioritising works on operational need and represents one of the biggest maintenance investments in WA hospitals to improve health infrastructure and create jobs.
The McGowan Government's new $81.5 million job-creating package provides Western Australian health facilities including hospitals, health clinics, aged care sites and regional health staff accommodation with extra funding to address priority maintenance works.
The funding, which will be allocated over the next three years, will ensure high priority maintenance works are carried out to 89 health facilities across the State to improve conditions for patients and staff, and create local employment opportunities.
This maintenance boost comes on top of other McGowan Government initiatives in Albany, to improve health and mental health support, including the delivery of the community step up/step down facility, $1.1 million to establish a Great Southern Needle and Syringe Exchange Program and work underway to deliver radiotherapy services, following the McGowan Government's $13.25 million commitment.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Good financial management has its rewards and this Government has got the State back into surplus and we're able to use targeted investments to deal with longstanding issues such as priority hospital maintenance across WA to ensure patients have the best of health care and we create jobs for Western Australians.
"These maintenance and improvement works are high job intensity - to ensure we can support lots of trades including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters and the like and will create jobs across the State. This means more people in work across the State and is a great contribution to ensure Government investment creates jobs."
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"This is about getting on with the job to complete maintenance projects and improvement works at regional hospitals and health facilities to improve conditions for patients and staff while providing local jobs to people.
"This maintenance blitz package is extra funding, on top of money already committed for planned maintenance works and minor works at health sites across the Great Southern region."
As stated by Albany MLA Peter Watson:
"I'm pleased the McGowan Government continues to invest in the Great Southern region to ensure our hospitals like the Albany Health Campus are better maintained.
"This is all in addition to the significant funding towards radiotherapy services at the Albany Health Campus, extra services to deal with methamphetamine and drug use and mental health in the community and initiatives to improve health infrastructure and services in Albany."
