Construction has reached its highest point as a topping out ceremony was conducted at Bowral and District Hospital.
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Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith said that the topping out of the building is an important part of the construction.
"The practice of 'topping out' a new building can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian practice of placing a tree atop a new building to appease tree-dwelling spirits displaced in its construction, with a tree or leafy branch placed on the highest point," he said
"The new Bowral and District Hospital Clinical Services Building has a height of four stories. At the topping out ceremony a tree will be placed atop the hospital, and later planted in the hospital grounds"
Mr Smith was delighted that local businesses and construction workers have been part of the have been part construction process
"Two key local suppliers are Austral Bricks (Bowral Bricks) and Concrite. Austral Bricks are supplying 137,000 bricks manufactured in their Bowral factory. Concrite are providing 3,377 cubic metres of concrete (equivalent to one and a third Olympic pools) manufactured at and delivered from Moss Vale and Mittagong.
"The use of locally sourced materials in the redevelopment supports local jobs in the Southern Highlands community' said Mr. Smith
Construction on the new clinical services building is expected to be completed in late 2020. And will deliver the following:
- A new Emergency Department
- Two new theatres
- A new main entry
- A new maternity unit and paediatric unit
- Integrated ambulatory care strategies incorporated into inpatient services
- Linkways and connections back to existing buildings and supporting services in the retained buildings
- On-grade car parking and drop off facilities, and overall improved access and way finding throughout the campus
Mr Smith is looking forward to working with local residents, users, administrators and clinicians on the $55 million Stage 2 upgrade development in the coming months. The Stage 2 upgrade was an election commitment made by the Liberal/National Coalition Government and then allocated in the 2019/20 budget.
