The Tweed Valley Hospital, due for completion in 2024, is a AUD$723m greenfield hospital development located in the Tweed-Byron region. The project addresses the growing demand for healthcare in the region by delivering additional inpatient capacity, an expanded emergency department, and enhanced surgical and ambulatory services. The project is the most significant regional capital health investment by the NSW Government to date.

TSA developed the gateway 1 and 2 business cases for the project, which required us to resolve several complex project challenges including:

• Site selection and compulsory acquisition.
• Detailed master-planning to ensure the site is appropriately future-proofed.
• Service prioritisation and consideration of staging options to deliver the hospital.
• Service transition strategies from the existing hospital and the interim management of the existing site.

TSA undertook the role of lead health planner, guiding the planning framework. This included managing the development of the models of care, schedules of accommodation, functional briefs, change management and operational readiness plans.

We assisted with the direct negotiation of procurement and drove the contract execution. During the procurement phase, TSA consulted with the Local Health District and Tweed Shire Council to discuss State Signification Development approvals and modification processes due to design finalisation changes.

The new hospital will provide expanded emergency department services, operating theatres and surgical services, intensive care and rehabilitation services, increased medical and surgical bed capacity, and a boost to ambulatory care services. It will also provide communities with specialised and local health services, such as radiation oncology and cardiac catheterisation, and expanded renal services to address the increasing incidence of chronic kidney disease in the Tweed Valley.

Accommodating over 350 beds, the project includes culturally appropriate spaces to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and the needs of the residents and visiting community.

The project is currently nearing completion, with TSA managing the delivery phase. We have played a central role in managing all aspects of the delivery, from contractor engagement to completion and commissioning.

The project provides significant economic benefits to the region, with over 75% of contractors on-site from the Tweed-Byron region. The new hospital will also help attract and retain skilled health professionals and provide an embedded learning, development and research facility to support educational opportunities for staff.