John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct Granted SSDA approval

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The $835 million expansion of the John Hunter and John Hunter Children’s Hospitals reached a major milestone in December with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment granting approval of the SSDA for the project.

John Hunter is one of the busiest hospitals in the state with the region’s population forecast to grow by 22% to 2036. the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct will be a key development to meet the expanding healthcare needs of the region.

The new, seven-storey Acute Services Building will significantly increase critical care capacity, with a 60 per cent increase in Intensive Care Unit capacity and almost 50 per cent more theatres.

The project will also see refurbishment of some existing areas of the hospital including two new inpatient units, a new child and adolescent mental health unit, an expanded main entrance with better drop off points and road upgrades across the precinct.
Consultation and engagement have been central to the project from the outset. The project has established an Aboriginal Design Group to ensure the design of the Precinct follows Designing with Country principles, a first for a Health Infrastructure project.

Internal and external engagement for 2021 included:

• Over 1,000 community survey responses (Social Impact Assessment)
• Over 150 PUG meetings
• Over 75 Working Group meetings
• Over 800 hours of consultation

The team are currently reviewing ECI tenders and work is scheduled to start next year after a contractor is appointed. The project is scheduled for completion in 2026.

The SSDA documents can be located here.