CobarHealthService

Hutchies is excited to have delivered the Cobar Health Service redevelopment, bringing a much-needed infrastructure upgrade to the regional communities aging population. The $20M multipurpose facility offers a combination of hospital type care uses, aged care options and staff accommodation. The project was constructed across the following six stages with the staged handover taking place on the practical completion of each section:

Stage 1 – Cobar Health Services
Stage 2 – Staff accommodation
Stage 3 – External works and essential services
Stage 4 – Liliane Brady Village and essential services
Stage 5 – External works

The new health service facility is adjacent to Liliane Brady Village, an existing residential aged care facility (RACF). The two facilities were connected by an enclosed link way, allowing for easy and uninterrupted access between the aged care facility and the hospital. The intent is that the site will be subdivided, with the line of subdivision expected between the two facilities (and therefore through the middle of the linkway). As part of the works, Hutchies refurbished two of the existing wards at the RACF and extending the facility, allowing space for more residents.

Hutchies' experience working in live sites has enabled us to plan our work around the active RACF. We ensured all stakeholders undertook high-risk workshops to help keep disruptions to a minimum. Our team also maintained strict compliance of emergency access, noise, dust and infection control. 

The regional site presented numerous challenges including the hot and dry climate, as well as latent ground conditions. Precautions were put in place to ensure constant dust suppression and a number of hydration stations to prevent heat exhaustion. The greenfield site is set upon strong rock foundations, Hutchies was able to add significant value to the project by suggesting the site levels were raised to limit excavation in the rock and services foundation, saving time in the program.