Govt confirms $500m Christchurch hospital expansion

The government yesterday confirmed a $500 million investment into health services in Christchurch.

Timed to coincide with Prime Minister John Key’s return from his overseas trip, the funding is part of a “master plan” begun four years ago by hospital staff.

The funding was promised on several occasions in 2012 by earthquake recovery minister Gerry Brownlee in the aftermath of the earthquakes.

Yesterday it was health minister Tony Ryall’s turn to announce that cabinet has confirmed the $500 million spend on Christchurch and Burwood hospitals rebuilding and expansion plans.

The Canterbury District Health Board will also inject $100 million from reserves to take the total new investment to $600 million.

Since September 2012 the expansion has been overseen by the Hospital Redevelopment Partnership Group, set up by the government to oversee the project.

Mr Brownlee also recently announced the consortium to plan central Christchurch’s post-quake Health Precinct.

The consortium led by companies BVN Donovan Hill and Jasmax has been selected from a group of 12 that tendered to write a master plan for the new hub for health education, research and innovation and delivery of health services to the public.

The Health Precinct is one of the key anchor projects in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and has the Christchurch Central Development Unit working alongside the Canterbury District Health Board, Otago and Canterbury universities, the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology and the private sector.

Within walking distance of Christchurch Hospital, the precinct will bring together private research and professional partners, and medi-hotels, where patients and families can stay while receiving outpatient or specialist care.

Detailed design will begin around August and construction should start in early 2014.

The master planning consortium also includes the firms Studio Nield, M.A. International, Aurecon, Impact Group and Rider Levett Bucknall.

c.hutch@clear.net.nz