Shellharbour Hospital
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What are you proposing?

The NSW Government has committed to building a new Shellharbour Hospital, at Dunmore Road, Dunmore.

In May 2021 the preferred location was selected following a public site identification process, including consideration of key criteria such as size, developable land area, access, and future expansion.

In June 2022 the NSW Government announced the completion of the land acquisition process for the land at Dunmore Road, paving the way for the new Shellharbour Hospital to be built.

A range of services will be included in the new hospital, including:
  • Expanded emergency services
  • Increased surgical capacity
  • Rehabilitation and aged care services
  • Acute medical services
  • New mental health services in contemporary, patient-centred facilities
  • Renal dialysis
  • Outpatients and ambulatory care services 
  • A new multi-storey car park and improved public transport links.

Do you know where the hospital will be located?
Yes, the hospital will be located in the northern portion of the site. 

How was the site selected?
An overarching governance structure implemented by Health Infrastructure to oversee the site selection process was complete. This included a public site selection process, where landholders could nominate their properties for consideration.

As part of this process, independent property advisors helped to determine the most suitable location, which included undertaking detailed due diligence on identified sites to find those which would best meet the health needs of the region.

How much did the land cost?
Land has been acquired as part of the more than $780 million Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project. 

When will construction commence? 
Early works have been completed. The main works construction is expected to commence in mid-2024.

When will you show us your plans and consult with the community?
We have consulted with the community at important milestones during the planning phase of the project. In November 2022, we released the master plan and concept plans for the hospital and hosted several community engagement sessions around the Shellharbour Area. 

In September and October 2023, the State Significant Development Application was put on public display and another series of community events were hosted By Health Infrastrcutre and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. In addition, we have consulted with staff and the community in both 2023 and 2024 regarding the new Warrawong Community Health Centre.

What is the project budget?
More than $780 million has been committed to the Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project, is funded jointly by the NSW and Australian Governments.

Why do we need a new hospital?
Our population is growing and our people are living longer with chronic and complex illnesses. By 2031, the Shoalhaven catchment is forecast to grow 12%, with significantly faster population growth in the 70+ age groups.

To provide high quality, accessible healthcare for our growing population, we need a significantly larger hospital, in both size and capability. The future hospital needs to be close to transport links and integrated with a wide range of health services to better serve the needs of our community now and into the future.

We also want to incorporate the lessons, the insights and the many breakthroughs we've made as a health service during COVID-19 to future-proof our services and the buildings that house them.

Why can’t we rebuild at the existing site?
The existing location on Madigan Boulevard is too small for further expansion. Shellharbour needs a new purpose-built hospital for contemporary health care.

Why did you commence early works on the existing hospital if you are not proceeding on the existing site?
The early works, including a new ground-level car park at the existing Shellharbour Hospital were completed in early 2020, which will help allow for the continued delivery of services at the current hospital while planning and construction of the new hospital takes place.

How tall will the new hospital be?
The new hospital is six storeys high depending and has been designed in a way to be sympathetic to the surrounding environment. 

How will you minimise impacts to the local neighbours?
We will work closely with our neighbours to ensure impacts are minimised as much as possible. When required notices or letters are sent out to inform neighbours of any upcoming works that they may be interested in. There are also stringent rules built into construction contracts to ensure the builders or contractors minimise impacts on the site.

Importantly, the new hospital is set back from Dunmore Road and will be surrounded by trees and specific landscaping to ensue visual and noise impacts are minimised.