It took several hard digs and the help of both feet for member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall to finally break the dry ground for the $60 million project on Wednesday. 

“Not only is this whole hospital built on very solid rock, but the ground itself is rock hard as well,” Mr Marshall laughed.

“This is so exciting for the community to actually start the construction.”

“It has been at times a tough battle, but gosh it’s been worth it to get to this point,” Mr Marshall said. 

A detailed ‘fly through’ was also released, giving locals a glimpse of how reception, emergency, the staff station and patients’ rooms are expected to look after the redevelopment.

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“The building will be fantastic because we’ll be able to provide services within a contemporary environment,” Hunter New England Health Rural and Regional Health Services executive director Susan Heyman said.

“That’s great for the patients, it’s great for our staff. It means more efficiencies. It means that what we provide here will be in a purpose built facility.”

Inverell Shire mayor Paul Harmon agreed that the project had “been a long time coming.”

“I actually didn’t think this day would come,” he admitted.

He said the construction was testament to the community’s commitment to the cause and collaboration with each other. 

Heavy machinery is already on site as rock drilling and earthworks begin. 

Richard Crookes Constructions senior project manager Jason Gollan said workers would begin the demolition of the existing hospital on Monday, August 20. 

A temporary entrance road from Moore Street is expected to be built next Friday, August 10, allowing workers to change the building site fencing while maintaining hospital access for patients and staff. 

“Then we’ll start the northern carpark straight away,” he said. 

“Demolition should be done by the end of the month, and then we’re into the bulk excavation side of things.”

Everything on the southern side of the hospital ring road will be demolished. The ring road will be closed entirely following construction. 

Stage one of the redevelopment includes a new and expanded emergency department, a 38-bed inpatient unit including paediatric and maternity and birthing facilities, and general adult services including palliative care, a new Medical Imaging or X-ray department and a new operating theatre.

There is also a new central sterilising unit, a day surgery unit, increased capacity for renal dialysis, a new main entry and admissions area, and new mortuary.

The $30 million second stage of the redevelopment, secured in the recent NSW Budget, is also being designed by NSW Health Infrastructure and Mr Marshall expects the tender to go out publicly for the works before Christmas this year.

That stage will include refurbishment of parts of the existing hospital for ambulatory care and community health functions.