$250m Mackay Base Hospital expansion project is now under construction

Construction is already underway on the $250 million expansion of the Mackay Base Hospital that will deliver an additional 128 beds and create up to 610 jobs. 

This project is one of the 11 hospital expansions being delivered under Queensland’s Health Big Build initiative – the biggest hospital build in the State’s history. 

“Queenslanders deserve to have access to quality care in their communities, which is why my government is delivering the biggest hospital build on record. 

“In Mackay, our $250 million investment will give locals more access to hospital beds, as well as better treatment spaces across a range of important wards. 

“And, the expansion will generate hundreds of good local jobs and training opportunities for the region. 

“The 128 extra beds for Mackay are just some of the 3,300 being delivered by our government. An extra 239 beds are set to be delivered this year alone,” Premier Steven Miles said. 

In addition to the new beds, the Mackay Base Hospital expansion will also deliver new birth suites and women’s and children’s health units to help relieve hospital pressures and improve patient care for the region. The 128 additional beds will be rolled out across paediatric, medical, and surgical wards. 

To ensure a smoother transition of care for mothers and newborns, the new birth suite is going to be built on the same level as the surgical department. 

Meanwhile, the Women’s Health Unit and the Child and Adolescent Unit will be moved into the new contemporary wards once the expansion is completed in the second half of 2026. 

“We know just how much this significant investment will mean for this growing community. 

“Once completed, the additional 128 beds at the Mackay Base Hospital will help meet rising demand for healthcare and improve the flow of patients from the emergency department into the wards. 

“This is a major boost for regional healthcare and will provide residents of Mackay and surrounding areas access to additional health services closer to home. 

“Furthermore, our invaluable frontline health workers will be supported by state-of-the-art facilities and technologies, allowing us to attract and retain the best and brightest staff,” Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman said. 

Initial works on site commenced in February of this year. The works included upgrades to essential services such as water and sewage along with site clearing. 

BESIX Watpac is carrying out the expansion of the Mackay Base Hospital. 

Planning for a multi-deck car park at the hospital that will support the expansion is also underway. 

“It’s fantastic to see work on this major expansion of Mackay Base Hospital under way. 

“We have been in the planning stage for some months so it’s good for staff and our community to know the much-anticipated expansion happening. 

“The existing facility has served us well for decades, but as our community continues to grow it’s imperative that our hospital grows with it. 

“Fortunately, this hospital was future-proofed when it was constructed, and we had allocated space for this anticipated growth,” Chief Executive of Mackay Hospital and Health Service Susan Gannon said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; PSNews