Watpac Completes $230 Million Gold Coast Hospital

Watpac has wrapped up construction on the new $230 million Gold Coast Private Hospital, paving the way for $25 million of new equipment to be installed ahead of its March opening.

The new hospital will replace Allamanda Private, also operated by Healthscope, when it opens on March 12 and initially feature 284 beds and 13 theatres - all with new equipment - with capacity to expand to 400 beds and 21 theatres, in-line with patient demand.

The construction completion marks the end of a two-year building program by Watpac and project managers RCP, with Gold Coast Private to become the first new private hospital to open on the Gold Coast in more than two decades.

RCP associate James Goodson said the project had been a huge success.

"Although it was a complex building project with a very short timeframe, the whole project team worked together to ensure that a high quality facility was delivered on time and on budget," Goodson said.

"We are very proud that all programme milestones were successfully achieved throughout the design and construction phases of the project."Watpac Limited managing director Martin Monro said he was delighted to have delivered the Gold Coast Private Hospital for a valued client.

“The successful on-time delivery of this project acknowledges the highly sought after skills within our business and is an example of Watpac’s expertise in the specialised field of health infrastructure," he said.

“We pride ourselves on delivering world class health facilities across the nation and our ongoing relationship with Healthscope for projects underway in Victoria and planned for New South Wales, will certainly ensure communities have access to state-of-the-art health infrastructure.”

Gold Coast Private general manager David Harper said although exterior construction was completed, work on the internal fittings was underway to ensure the facility was finished to the highest possible standard in time for opening.

"With construction now finalised, our focus has turned to completing the final fit-out, which is a major task in itself, with thousands of medical devices, furniture and other equipment being shipped in specifically for the new facility," he said.

Mr Harper said the fit-out program would also include an on-site cafe, pharmacy and specialist suites, which would ensure patients could access their specialists in the one location.

The Gold Coast Private Hospital was designed by architects DWP Suters and structural engineers Bornhorst and Ward.

Mr Harper said, once open, Gold Coast Private would employ more than 850 staff, providing a jobs boost of more than 80 compared with current staffing numbers at Allamanda Private.