Outback Hospital Reaches Practical Completion Amid Cost Blowout

A long-awaited hospital in Western Australia's outback has reached practical completion, with a price tag of $67.6 million - more than three times the original budget. The new Laverton Hospital, which began construction last year, replaces an aging facility built in 1973.

The hospital features an eight-bed facility, a 24-hour emergency department equipped with telehealth services, flexible care beds, specialist facilities for visiting clinicians, and outpatient services for community health and mental health. The hospital also has space for an onsite private GP clinic.

Cost Blowout

Health Minister Meredith Hammat has defended the cost of the build, saying it reflects the challenges of delivering major infrastructure in remote locations. "What we see with all our health infrastructure projects, particularly in regional Western Australia, is that it's always challenging to deliver them," she said. "But we are absolutely committed to deliver the health services and the health infrastructure that people need."

Ms Hammat added that the new hospital will allow for co-location of services like community health, child health, and a GP service.

A Long Road to Completion

The Shire of Laverton has been lobbying for a hospital redevelopment for over a decade. The former government promised a $19.5 million redevelopment in 2015, but funding was cut when the current government came to power in 2017.

Premier Roger Cook, who was health minister in 2017, said the new hospital would open its doors to patients from Wednesday. "I'm a previous health minister and this project has been on the books for a long time," he said. "It's with a sense of deep relief but great pride that we're now in a position to welcome patients here."

Importance of the Hospital

Shire of Laverton president Pat Hill said the new hospital would be vital in emergencies due to the projected increase in traffic once the Outback Way was sealed. "It's been on the cards for over 15 years … I know they've had challenges but it's completed and it's a beautiful, first class facility," he said.

Kalgoorlie MLA Ali Kent echoed Mr Hill's sentiments on the hospital's importance due to the Outback Way. "Laverton is in the middle of the desert, it's a long way from the Perth CBD and to have a hospital of this standard delivered here … it's been a difficult journey because we were putting tenders out and couldn't get builders that could do it," she said. "When the Outback Way goes through, this hospital is going to become even more important."