- First major concrete pour lays important foundations for new Women and Babies Hospital in Murdoch
- Marks start of a series of major pours to create base to support 12-storey hospital
- The first of eight tower cranes has been installed to help fast-track construction
- Hospital to expand services and care for women and families as part of the State's biggest ever health infrastructure program
Construction of the new Women and Babies Hospital is forging ahead with completion of the first major concrete pour and arrival of the first tower crane.
Around 2,200 cubicmetresof concrete - more than two thirds of an Olympic-sized swimming pool - has been pouredatthe Women and Babies Hospital construction site.
This is expected to be the single largest pour for the project, helping create a central foundation supporting the building's lifts and stairwells and providing stability for these vertical structures.
The pour took place over more than 12 hours and involved three mobile concrete pumps delivering around 150-200 cubic metres of concrete an hour.
Further pours at ground level will take place later this year to form theapproximately 10,000 squaremetreground slab - an area aroundhalf the size ofOptus Stadium.
The first tower crane was also recently assembled, standing at 35 metres tall and able to lift objects weighing up to 13 tonnes - the equivalent of two adult elephants.
This crane, along with six others, will operate around the perimeter of the site footprint - an area of more than 25,000 square metres.
An eighth crane will be at the centre of the site and will play a critical role in the construction of the main building core.
All eight cranes will be fully electric, producing lower emissions and contributing to a more sustainable construction process, as well as being quieter to operate.
The use of multiple tower cranes on site will help achieve a faster build program to support the planned opening of the new hospital in 2029.
Activity on site will ramp up further between now and the end of the yearand includes:
- commencement of construction on the building's main above-ground structures;
- pouring of the ground slab; and
- commencement of construction of the hospital's main floors.
Beyond the hospital itself, the broader project includes construction of new multi-deck car parks to support future growth at the Fiona Stanley Hospital precinct, as well as a major expansion of facilities at Osborne Park Hospital.
Progressonthe first of the multi-deck car parks is advancing with the first major concrete pour completed in March and a tower crane assembled on site in April.
The Cook Labor Government is investing $5.5 billion to deliver the State's biggest ever hospital building program.
As stated by Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey:
"The first major concrete pour and arrival of the first of eight tower cranes has occurred about six months after breaking ground on the new Women and Babies Hospital.
"It's a rapid pace that reflects the Cook Labor Government's commitment to expanding hospital capacity and delivering this vital project.
"The new hospital will expand care and services for women and families and is part of our record $5.5 billion health infrastructure program.
"We are also delivering a new emergency department at Royal Perth Hospital and new and upgraded hospitals across regional WA."
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"The development of WA's state-of-the-art new Women and Babies Hospital in the Fiona Stanley Hospital precinct is well and truly underway.
"The Cook Labor Government is strengthening the future of healthcare in Western Australia and ensuring every Western Australian can access the healthcare they need, when they need it.
"This unprecedented expansion of our public health system will deliver a significant increase in bed capacity to meet our growing community needs with modern, purpose-built facilities."
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"This is another important milestone for Western Australia's new Women and Babies Hospital, with major works now well and truly underway at the Fiona Stanley Hospital precinct.
"The new Women and Babies Hospital is one of the most significant health infrastructure projects ever undertaken in WA, and it is fantastic to see construction moving ahead.
"As works ramp up on the hospital site, we're also building the first multi-deck car park to provide more parking for the new hospital."
