March 15, 2017
Construction is about to begin on the new building which will replace the demolished Farrhome at the back of Kingaroy Hospital.
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) Executive Director Infrastructure, Dr Paul Clayton, said the new purpose-built building would benefit the South Burnett for many years.
“We expect construction to be underway by early April,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to replacing the old Farr Home building with a contemporary oral health and community health facility.
“The new building will have a similar footprint to the old one, and we are ensuring the memory of Matron Farr, who worked at Kingaroy Hospital from the 1940s through to the 1970s, will be maintained in a very significant way.
“We estimate the construction phase of the project should take around 20 weeks, so if all goes to plan the new facility should be nearing completion by late July.”
Dr Clayton said the DDHHS’s commitment to the original aim of the joint project with partners Griffith University and Queensland Rural Medical Education (QRME) remained steadfast.
“A joint project, with co-contributors Griffith University and QRME, to use the old building for a dental and community health facility was underway last year, but in early November the construction contractors found much larger amounts of asbestos in the ageing building than expected,” he said.
“With safety being our primary concern a decision was made to demolish the building, so we are now looking forward to the delivery of a new purpose-built facility.”
Dr Clayton said the construction of the new building would not detract from the DDHHS’s efforts to get a new hospital for Kingaroy.
“A new hospital for Kingaroy remains the number one priority for the DDHHS,” he said.
“All large infrastructure projects of that nature need to go through the Queensland Government’s Investment Review process for approval and funding.
“In the meantime we are committed to providing the best facilities possible for the people of the South Burnett, and the construction of this new oral health and community health building is testament to that commitment.”
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