The first of two tower cranes has been installed at the $526.8 million Ryde Hospital Redevelopment site to support construction of the new seven-level Acute Services Building (ASB).
The Minns Labor Government is investing in the redevelopment to ensure Ryde Hospital meets the healthcare needs of the growing community now and into the future.
Standing at more than 60 metres tall, the tower crane will support construction of the new ASB, which will house a new and expanded Emergency Department, intensive care, surgical and outpatient services.
Construction of the redevelopment is progressing on site, and work is being carefully staged to ensure continuity of care at Ryde Hospital for patients and staff. The footprint for the future ASB has been cleared and work to lay the foundations for the new hospital is underway.
During construction, the project is reducing its environmental impact by using electric, battery-powered tower cranes, helping to reduce carbon emissions and smooth energy demand. This method will provide energy savings equivalent to powering the lights in more than 150 Australian homes at once.
Construction of the ASB for the $526.8 million Ryde Hospital Redevelopment is on track for construction completion in late 2027.
The project is being delivered by the Northern Sydney Local Health District and Health Infrastructure, with AW Edwards as principal contractor.
To celebrate the arrival of the tower cranes, local children aged 2-12 are being invited to take part in a "Name the Crane" competition. The two cranes will remain on site for the duration of construction, and the winning names will be displayed on the cranes for the community to see throughout the project. The initial crane took two days to assemble and was carefully erected on site, creating a hive of activity for interested onlookers who watched it rise from its base.
Each crane will have the capacity to lift up to 20 tonnes at a time, the equivalent of four adult elephants.
To learn more about the local "Name the Crane" competition and submit an entry.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"The arrival of the tower canes means we are one step closer to delivering better health services for the people of Ryde.
"The new hospital will deliver high-quality services in world-class facilities, ensuring the local community has access to great healthcare closer to home.
"More hospitals and more beds, more quickly - lower wait times - it's as simple as that. "
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Bennelong, Jerome Laxale
"The arrival of the first crane shows the real progress we're making on the Ryde Hospital development.
"Be it a hospital, funding an MRI machine for it, a new ambulance station, 3 new schools, and a new electric bus depot, the Minns Labor government is investing in the infrastructure a growing community like ours desperately needs."
Quotes attributable to Ryde Councillor Lyndal Howison:
"These cranes are not just a construction milestone, they are a giant signpost for the biggest redevelopment to happen at Ryde Hospital since it opened nearly 100 years ago.
"I really encourage kids in Ryde to get involved with the Name the Crane competition, this is their new local hospital as well as being a way to learn a bit more about the construction industry.
"Combined with the recent news about an MRI machine at Ryde Hospital, it's another exciting step toward better local healthcare for our community."
Quotes attributable to Northern Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Anthony Schembri:
"We have worked hard to maintain services throughout construction, and this milestone shows how far we have come. The crane will help us build the future of healthcare in Ryde."
