An exciting new phase has arrived for the Adelaide Hills’ most important expansion of local health services in living memory, with works now underway to build the new Mount Barker Hospital’s most significant building.
The Clinical Services Building will be the heart of the $365.8 million new hospital, featuring new and expanded health services which will ensure Hills residents are able to access care closer to home, while easing pressure on major metropolitan hospitals.
The new building will begin taking shape over the next few months, with construction company Built managing the works. The company has already proven its capacity to deliver improved health infrastructure in Mount Barker after it completed the hospital’s new Emergency Department in 2023.
This project milestone brings a key Malinauskas Government election commitment closer to being delivered, with Hills communities to benefit from a major improvement in health services that would never have happened under a Liberal Government.
Once completed, the new hospital will triple current inpatient capacity at Mount Barker and District Soldier’s Memorial Hospital from 34 to 102 beds. Specialist beds for maternity, paediatric, mental health, palliative care and rehabilitation will be complemented with contemporary operating theatres and dedicated Aboriginal Health and Allied Health facilities.
The hospital will also be the first newly-built all-electric South Australian public health facility, helping to reduce the state’s carbon emissions.
Early works were completed earlier this year, moving some community services off-site and demolishing some former buildings to make way for the new build.
Work is also due to start soon on the hospital’s new 654-space multi-deck carpark, up from the former carpark’s 431.
The new Mount Barker Hospital remains on track for completion and the facility opened by the end of 2027.
Quotes
Attributable to Chris Picton
This is a big step forward for the new Mount Barker Hospital build.
The Clinical Services Building will deliver a new hospital that interfaces with the existing Emergency Department, so it’s great to see work is now underway.
Expanding the hospital car park to provide improved access to care is also a much-needed investment, and it’s exciting to hear that work on the new carpark will get underway soon.
The Adelaide Hills is one of the fastest growing communities in our state and this investment will help provide locals the healthcare they need, close to home, for years to come.
Attributable to the Member for Kavel, Dan Cregan MP
We have campaigned for many years as a community for this project and it’s a delight to see it taking shape.
It is important for as many Hills residents as possible to be able to access the very best care close to home – and that is what the new hospital will deliver.
Attributable to Labor candidate for Heysen, Marisa Bell
Improving access to quality health care in the Adelaide Hills is good for our communities and it’s good for the health professionals that keep us safe.
Nurses like me see these improvements first-hand and we see the positive impact it has on families.
The new Mount Barker Hospital will provide much needed reassurance for people across the Adelaide Hills that quality care is close to home.
Attributable to Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network Chief Executive Officer Bronwyn Masters
It’s great to see work now underway on the construction of the new Mount Barker Hospital and I know the staff are also excited.
A lot of time and effort has gone into planning the new hospital, so it’s pleasing to watch this facility go from a design on paper to something you will soon be able to see.
We continue to work behind the scenes with staff and our consumers to provide safe access to care during construction as we also prepare for the opening of the new hospital. The internal designs are about to be released for consultation, which will provide everyone an opportunity to provide feedback and input on the designs.
