Contractors sought for award winning University Hospital

Contractors will soon be able to apply to work on the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg today announced online applications for 230 work packages for the construction of the hospital project would open on Wednesday, 16 January.

Mr Springborg said the work opportunities would be a major boost for the local economy.

“This is a great opportunity for businesses to be a part of one of this state’s most important infrastructure projects,” Mr Springborg said.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said the project was a great opportunity for local businesses to apply for contracts.

“This is a once in a generation project for the Sunshine Coast and I encourage our local businesses to bid for as many contracts as possible,” Cr Jamieson said.

“Our businesses are ready to bid after Council’s information forums last year, and I’m confident locals will be more than competitive.”

The Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) is being delivered by Exemplar Health - a consortium comprising Lend Lease, Capella Capital, Siemens and Spotless - which was appointed in July 2012.

The contract work currently required ranges from carpentry, steelwork, roofing and hydraulic services, to landscaping, painting, fixtures and fittings.

Mr Springborg said Exemplar Health estimated about 1,800 to 2,000 jobs would be created during the peak of construction activity.

“The tertiary teaching hospital is the first new, not replacement, hospital to be built in Australia in 20 years – it is a significant project,” he said.

"It is also the first public hospital in Queensland to be delivered under a public private partnership (PPP) model.”

The PPP model used for the SCUH project was recently named PPP Deal of the Year for the Asia Pacific Region at the 2012 Project Finance International (PFI) Awards.

Mr Springborg said PFI was one of the most esteemed online publication for project finance in the world, and was a part of the acclaimed Thomson Reuters Awards for Excellence.

“This award is high praise from a well-regarded international institution.

“The $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital PPP is Queensland's first public hospital PPP and this award acknowledges its significance.

“We are delighted that the partnership’s importance has been recognised at this level.

“When it opens in 2016, the hospital will revolutionise the delivery of public health care services to the Sunshine Coast.

“In the meantime, its construction will provide an important boost to our economy.”

To apply for available work packages, companies should register on the Industry Capability Network (ICN) website at www.scuh.icn.org.au

[ENDS] 14 January 2013

Media contact: Cameron Thompson 0407 585 230