Ground is moving at Mandurah, with earthworks under way on a new five-storey hospital that will cost more than $1.1 billion and replace the ageing Peel Health Campus south of Perth.

ABC News reports the main works contract has been awarded jointly to Built Australia and Sacyr Construction. The facility is due to open in early 2029, giving the building and civil trades roughly two and a half years of work on site.

The hospital will carry about 300 beds, adding 111 net new beds to the state system. Services include a larger emergency department than the current campus, a mental health emergency centre, maternity and outpatient care, palliative care, and cancer treatment. All services currently at Peel Health Campus will be replaced or expanded at the new site.

Funding comes from the WA government’s $2 billion Building Hospitals Fund, the same pool that covered the $807 million Royal Perth Hospital upgrade and the $224 million purchase of the 196-bed Mt Lawley Hospital. The Cook government has already spent $152 million on water and electricity infrastructure for the site, with a further $950 million allocated for construction. Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey confirmed the fund would be progressively topped up rather than drawn down to zero.

Premier Roger Cook said the Peel region is among the fastest-growing in the state and the new hospital is about keeping services local. “It means people in Mandurah, the surrounding suburbs and across the Peel region will be able to access more care closer to home,” he said. A separate $1 million has been set aside for master planning at Rockingham General Hospital, where demand is forecast to rise sharply over the next two decades, partly driven by the AUKUS-related expansion of HMAS Stirling.

For WA tradies, a project of this scale running to 2029 means sustained demand across structural, mechanical, electrical, and fitout work. Contractors chasing packages should watch for subcontractor opportunities through Built Australia and Sacyr Construction as the programme moves from earthworks into structure.

Frequently asked questions

How many beds will the new Mandurah hospital have?

The new facility will have about 300 beds, adding 111 net new beds to WA’s hospital system.

When will the new Mandurah hospital open?

The hospital is due to open in early 2029.

Who is building the new Mandurah hospital?

The main works contract has been awarded jointly to Built Australia and Sacyr Construction.

What services will the new hospital offer?

Services will include a larger emergency department, a mental health emergency centre, maternity and outpatient care, palliative care, and cancer treatment. All services currently at Peel Health Campus will be replaced or expanded.

Sourced from ABC News. Original article.