State Government in ‘exclusive negotiations’ with construction company to build long-awaited Laverton Hospital

The State Government has revealed it is in “exclusive negotiations” with an Australian construction company to build the new Laverton Hospital. More than eight years after funds were first allocated, ADCO Constructions was awarded a contract in August to complete the forward works. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson visited the Goldfields on Tuesday and said the Government was in “exclusive” negotiations with the contractor to complete the project. “We’re in exclusive talks with ADCO who are doing the forward works and we’re working through finalising those negotiations as we speak,” she said. The discovery of asbestos in the subsoil late last year caused a hitch in construction and will require fresh gravel to replace the contaminated soil when it is removed. Ms Sanderson said the asbestos discovery was not expected to cause major delays to the project. “There’s not many ageing campuses or any ageing infrastructure that you would go to in Western Australia that does not have asbestos,” she said. “It was certainly planned for as part of the contingency and they’re getting on with the safe removal of that.” Shire of Laverton president Pat Hill said he was confident the WA Government would deliver on its promise to complete the project after it had stalled for years. Mr Hill said with strong mining activity around Laverton and the sealing of the Outback Way on the horizon, the town’s dilapidated hospital desperately needed an upgrade. “The hospital is just so run down . . . it’s pretty awkward for the staff and everyone who operates it,” he said. “The (health) minister told me herself, ‘we’re definitely going to build this hospital’, so I take her word for it. “We want to make it happen as quickly as possible . . . because it would be great for the town.” Asked what the cost blowout would be, Ms Sanderson said it was “no secret” the hospital would cost more than first quoted. “The construction sector has been under considerable strain over the last few years,” she said. “We’ve seen a 30 per cent increase in labour and material costs, and that has a flow-on effect. “I can’t divulge what the final figure will be, but it will be released as part of the final tender.”