The Minns Labor Government has today announced Nowra will benefit from a $21 million investment in health worker housing, as the site of the $438 million Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment reached a major milestone.
These investments will provide a significant boost to healthcare on the South Coast of NSW, a rapidly growing region which deserves the best access to world class healthcare.
$21 million Key Health Worker Investment
Nowra will receive new key health worker accommodation which will support staff and the community across the broader Shoalhaven region.
The Minns Labor Government will invest $21 million as part of the broader $200.1 million Key Health Worker Accommodation program.
Now funding has been allocated, planning for the health worker accommodation works is underway.
This planning will determine the best delivery model for Nowra and how many healthcare workers will be accommodated. This will include consultation with health workers and other local stakeholders.
$438 million Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment
The $438 million Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment has reached its highest point, with a topping out of the new seven-storey acute services building.
As part of the traditional ceremony, a tree was lifted onto the roof, with messages tied to its branches from staff, construction workers, and project team members, sharing their excitement and well wishes for the future redeveloped hospital.
The new acute services building is a key feature of the redevelopment and will enable the delivery of contemporary health services and facilities for the local community. The Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment will become a health hub for the region, providing the majority of emergency, critical care, acute, sub-acute and non-admitted health services locally, reducing the need to transfer patients to Wollongong and Sydney.
The new acute services building will deliver a range of new and expanded health services including:
- a new emergency department and emergency short-stay unit
- new intensive care unit
- medical wards
- dedicated acute mental health unit
- double the number of operating theatres, endoscopy and procedure rooms
- a dedicated cardiology inpatient unit, coronary care unit and cardiac catheterisation laboratory
- a new rooftop helipad
Consultation with staff, patients and the community has been a key part of planning and design for the redevelopment, ensuring the new hospital meets the unique health needs of the Shoalhaven region.
The new hospital building is on track for completion in 2026.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:
"Today's topping out ceremony marks a major achievement for the $438 million Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment project.
"The redevelopment will transform healthcare delivery for local residents, and ensure they continue to have access to quality care closer to home without needing to travel to Wollongong or Sydney.
"Our government is committed to investing in modern, sustainable accommodation options for key health workers who are the backbone of our regional, rural and remote communities.
"Strengthening our regional health workforce is a key priority for our government and this $21 million investment in accommodation will support attraction of key healthcare workers to Nowra."
Quotes attributable to Member for the South Coast, Liza Butler:
"Funding for Key Health Worker Accommodation in Nowra will enhance the Local Health District's ability to attract and retain essential healthcare professionals to Shoalhaven Hospital.
"As work continues on the $438 million Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment this will be particularly important, with the project set to transform healthcare services across the region, delivering modern health facilities and expanded health services for communities across the South Coast.
"Not only is this redevelopment great for healthcare in the region, but it has also been great for local jobs and I am really proud that more than 70 per cent of the construction workforce is based locally."
