15 November 2005

Architect appointed for Griffith, Batlow, Berrigan, Junee

NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos today announced a major boost for rural infrastructure in the Greater Southern Area Health Service, with the appointment of the successful tender for the design work on four capital works projects: Griffith Base Hospital Emergency Department

• Batlow Multi Purpose Service
• Berrigan Multi Purpose Service
• Junee Multipurpose Service

"I am please to announce that following a tender process, Rice Daubney Architects will be undertaking the Project Definition and detailed design planning for these important infrastructure projects", Mr Hatzistergos said.

Griffith Base Hospital will get a completely refurbished Emergency Department which will be better able to cater for the complexity of presentations that arrive at the hospital.

"The current Emergency Department, has served the community of Griffith well. However, the redevelopment will create a modern treatment area and improve access to ensure the hospital will be able to cater for the future needs of the community and the surrounding area.

"This redevelopment will provide the community of Griffith with a state of the art Department which is responsive to their needs and detailed design and documentation will start immediately", he said.

The detailed design work for MPSs at Batlow, Berrigan and Junee will see the continuation of planning that has been underway for some time. Each facility will have the following characteristics:

• Residential aged care beds
• Acute beds
• Emergency facilities
• Staff Accommodation
• Ambulance stations
• Community Health

"Each facility will be a purpose built health service on a greenfield site", Mr Hatzistergos said.

Multi Purpose Services are often referred to as a "one-stop-shop" for health services in smaller rural towns. They provide for consolidated health precincts bringing together all health services in a town through a unique partnership between the State and Federal Governments.

"These long awaited and eagerly anticipated projects will now enter the final design stage moving them closer to construction and the realising of many years hard work of many people especially that of the local steering committees in Batlow, Berrigan and Junee", he said.

The Project Definition Planning and detailed design work are expected to allow tenders to be let for construction of these four projects in the first half of 2006.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au