Hospital work in final stage

THE Royal Hobart Hospital’s new inpatient redevelopment structure is now finished and practical completion at the site is less than six months away, according to the Government.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the 10-storey development — known as K-Block — was in its final stages after the structure had been finished, and a helipad installed last weekend.

The first of two tower cranes, which completed about 15,000 lifts, has been removed from the site, where about 400 subcontractors are working to fit out the building.

“The redevelopment is Tasmania’s largest health infrastructure project and when complete will mean increased bed capacity, more operating and procedure rooms, and state-of-the-art health facilities,” Mr Ferguson said.

“We are very proud of what is being achieved in the knowledge that these facilities will make a significant difference to the lives and health care of many Tasmanians.”

Work at the $689 million site was dealt a blow last week when subcontractor AMS Hydraulics withdrew its labour and terminated the jobs of 20 Tasmanian plumbers. But Mr Ferguson said completion was expected by mid-year, after delays attrib- uted to a raft of issues including faulty modules and asbestos scares pushed the initial completion date back from December 2018.

“The RHH redevelopment remains on track to reach practical completion mid-2019, which is now less than six months away,” Mr Ferguson said.

“After two decades of politicians talking about this project, it took this Liberal Government to save it and now deliver it to the people.”