Construction work on the $236 million redevelopment of the Manukau Health Park now won’t start until late 2022 after delays due to Covid-19, according to Counties Manukau Health.
The contract for the project’s stage one infrastructure works has already been awarded to Stockman General Contractors, but the tender for the construction still hasn’t been signed off.
In May last year Counties Manukau Health said it had approved preliminary designs for the project and work was expected to start in late 2021.
But the first stage of the infrastructure works at the Great South Rd site adjoining the Manukau Super Clinic has only just started.
A spokeswoman from Counties Manukau Health conceded the project has been beset by delays caused by the pandemic.
“Like all infrastructure projects nationwide Covid-19 is posing challenges,” she said.
The spokeswoman said civil engineering works were supposed to begin late last year, but they were delayed by the coronavirus.
When asked if there were any outstanding issues with the project’s funding, the spokeswoman said there was still some way to go before finalising the true cost of the works.
“We can’t determine that until the remaining two building packages of work are priced by the market,” she said.
The Government is expected to provide $216.4m in funding for the redevelopment, while Counties Manukau Health will provide the balance.
The new facilities are expected to include an expanded renal dialysis service, four new operating theatres, a new radiology hub and an integrated breast care service. The site will also be future-proofed for further expansion.
Counties Manukau Health said in May that the redevelopment was needed to address the area’s growth, with the number of appointments handled by the facility forecast to grow by 25 per cent over the next decade.
“It’s crucial the south Auckland community can access the care they need from health services in fit for purpose facilities that support better health and wellbeing,” she said.
“[More than] 560,000 people live in Counties Manukau, many with high health needs, particularly among Māori and Pacific communities.”
According to Counties Manukau Health, 90 per cent of all of its 850,000 outpatient appointments delivered in the last two years were at the Manukau Health Park.
