Murdoch job for Brookfield

Construction giant Brookfield Multiplex has consolidated its position as a leading builder of hospitals in Western Australia after being picked by St John of God Health Care as managing contractor for the $200 million redevelopment of its Murdoch campus. 

The redevelopment includes the provision of an additional 120 in-patient beds, an additional birthing room, expanded critical care capability, an additional eight operating theatres, a new skin cancer centre, a multi-storey medical centre, expansion of the day procedure unit and a 30-station endoscopy unit.

It also includes the refurbishment of administrative areas and the hospital chapel, expansion of the pharmacy and kitchen and a bigger car park.

Brookfield regional managing director Chris Palandri said that by bringing together an experienced team for the redevelopment, the company would draw on local and international capability in delivering the health services. 

“We are pleased to be involved at this early stage of design and planning. By collaborating together upfront, we can streamline the process and ensure certainty of delivery,” Mr Palandri said.

Brookfield’s contract win bolsters the company’s status as an industry leader for hospital construction. The company is building the $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch.

The Murdoch contract also strengthens the company’s relationship with St John of God. The two entities are part of consortium named as  preferred contractor to develop a new $360 million public hospital in Midland. 

Brookfield’s main competition in the hospital construction sector is Leighton subsidiary John Holland, which was last year nominated by the state government to design and build a new $1.2 billion children’s hospital at the QEII Medical Centre.

The children’s facility is being constructed to replace Princess Margaret Hospital in Subiaco and is expected to be completed in late 2015.

John Holland is also contracted to deliver the Albany Health Campus and the redevelopment and expansion of Ramsay Healthcare’s Joondalup Health Campus.

St John of God Murdoch chief executive officer Peter Mott said that with the appointment of Brookfield, Western Australians would begin to see some building activity at the site in the next few months. The main works, consisting of a new patient block and medical centre, are expected to start around August.

“We expect to begin commissioning some expanded clinical services from late 2013, with all new facilities for patients completed by late 2014,” Mr Mott said.