Legislative Council, Thursday 26 May 2022

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to capital works projects at the West Coast District Hospital related to Stage 2 of Lyell Wing, the aged care facility:

1 Does the Minister believe it would be more cost effective to undertake this capital upgrade at the same time as the capital works to the Emergency Department?

2 Have the designs been finalised?

3 What is the likely cost and has this been budgeted for?

4 What processes need to occur for this capital upgrade to proceed?

Answers:

1 There are some potential cost efficiencies if the two stages of redevelopment were to be undertaken at the same time. However, following consultation with Council’s General Manager and local service managers, it was agreed the Emergency Department Redesign and building an additional aged care bed (taking capacity to 17) would be the focus of the available funding from the Federal Government.

2 Currently, only the concept design has been completed.

3 I am advised the likely cost, based on a concept design prepared in early 2021 is in excess of $3.0 million. This work is currently unfunded. The Premier has committed to working with the Council assist in lobbying the Federal Government for additional funding. We note the funding commitment by the Coalition in the recent Federal Election campaign and we will be contacting the incoming Federal Health minister to support these additional investments.

4 A lead architect will need to be engaged to undertake the detailed design, in consultation with staff and other stakeholders, and prepare contract documentation including a pretender estimate.
Once this is completed a competitive procurement process would be undertaken.