Five Years In The Making: Construction Starts On New Cowra Hospital

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke (right) with (from left) Executive Director at Health Infrastructure NSW Amanda Bock; Stephen Lawrence MLC; Western NSW Local Health District CEO Mark Spittal; and Health Services Manager Pauline Rowston, at the sod-turn marking the start of the main works construction of the new Cowra Hospital.

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, officially launched the start of the main works of the new Cowra Hospital last Wednesday with a sod turning ceremony. It comes around 12 months since the project first began, and almost five years since it was first announced.

The first 12 months saw some old, dysfunctional buildings at the rear of the current hospital bulldozed and removed, and the land prepared for this construction of the new hospital.

The main works of the building of the new, $110.2million hospital have now commenced, and it is expected to be completed by early next year.

“Today marks another significant step forward for this community, who for many years, have fought to secure what will be a state-of-the-art facility providing enhanced healthcare services for residents in Cowra, and surrounding towns and villages,” Ms Cooke said.

“It will truly transform healthcare for Cowra and its surrounds, and I want to take this opportunity to once again pay tribute to all those who helped bring our collective vision to life.

“This project all began with a petition I launched over five years ago, and has grown to become one of the biggest ever infrastructure projects in the town’s history. “I’m proud to say I have been there every step of the way on this journey with the community; it is a true testament of just how effective people power can be,” she said.

The project includes: