With advanced designs of the flood levee now complete, an expression of interest will be going to market next month, followed by a formal tender process.
Chief executive Mary Manescu said she hoped the ongoing progress on the levee would provide reassurance to the community.
“That's what (the community) wanted — they wanted to know that they can still have their loved ones here if anything was to happen ... that their access to urgent care, access to primary care, GP practice and other things is preserved,” she said.
“What we want to really confirm and reassure the community is that the board has been committed from the start ... and is now going into the market to secure the builder basically.”
Following the 2022 floods, the REDHS board worked diligently to ensure the levee remained a top priority even after the hospital’s rebuild was completed.
The proposal of a levee was well received by residents, who shared their feedback and any concerns during community consultations.
The levee is planned to encompass the entire hospital, along with critical infrastructure such as the diesel generator, water tanks and fire pump.
The project will roll out in two stages, with REDHS aiming to finalise procurement by April 2026 at the latest, with hopes of beginning construction around Easter.
Board chair Chris White said the levee would play a vital role in enabling REDHS to continue serving the community in all situations.
“This levee is a vital safeguard for our community,” he said.
“It is about ensuring that in times of crisis, our health service can continue to operate without interruption and our staff can keep doing their essential work. That our patients and residents continue to receive safe, high-quality care, and our community has certainty in the services that it relies on.”
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