Building healthier communities: Blackwater Multipurpose Health Service begins construction
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Posted on May 2, 2024
Blackwater is set to welcome a state-of-the-art modular healthcare facility servicing the communities of Blackwater and Bluff as well as the large coal mining workforce close by.
Mayor Janice Moriarty was on site to witness the installation of the long awaited and much needed, Blackwater Multipurpose Health Service.
‘There has been strong and significant advocacy to the Queensland Government by the local community members, health workers, the CQ Health, Hospital Board and council over the past 20 years for this facility,’ she said.
The existing Blackwater health care facility is being replaced with a new modular design. This allows for easy expansion to the new facility in the future to meet the growing needs of the community.
Morgan Bishop Project Manager for Hutchinson Builders said there had been many trucks delivering supplies and building modules over the past two days.
‘On Monday and Tuesday, 49 trucks lined up along McKenzie Street with parts of the modular building and then with great precision moved each module into place on the site,’ he said.
Mayor Moriarty said she understands some people are concerned about the final quality of the modular-style building, however, once the building is fully installed and gardens are established it will look like a more traditional building.
‘The Queensland Government has used this style of modular buildings to install medical and hospital facilities in many smaller and regional centres over the past years or more,’ she said.
‘On behalf of council and the local community, we thank the Queensland government and look forward to working with them further to install new staff accommodation to attract and retain medical staff to work at the new Blackwater Multipurpose Health Service.’
The new Multipurpose Health Service is part of the Queensland Government’s more than $1 billion Building Rural and Remote Health Program. The project is targeting completion in early 2025. For more information on this project visit https://chrc.info/4aXCv2J