Page 1673 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2007
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(1) In relation to the program of new capital works for ACT Health, what planning has been undertaken for the two new Territorial projects that are identified as Capital Upgrades;
(2) Are these projects progressing in accord with the timetable set out in the 2006-07 Budget papers;
(3) If there have been any delays with these projects, what (a) is the reason for these delays and (b) impact will these delays have on the proposed completion date for the projects;
(4) What spending has been completed on each of these projects as at 30 April 2007;
(5) What spending, that had been approved for 2006-07, will remain unspent on these two projects as at 30 June 2007;
(6) If any funds are expected to remain unspent on any of these two projects; why.
Ms Gallagher: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The two new Territorial projects that are identified as Capital Upgrades are actually groupings of projects that fall within the sub categories of the Capital Upgrade funding as identified on page 172 of budget paper No. 4. Recurrent funding is made available to Calvary Hospital for capital upgrades on an annual basis for minor new works. The projects for each year’s Capital Upgrades Program are determined by Calvary each year based on service needs and known replacement / refurbishment based on assessment of the condition of the facilities.
(2) Capital Upgrades are usually completed in the financial year the funding is allocated, however these two projects are behind the expected schedule as explained in answer (3).
(3) Maternity Area Upgrades
a) The Maternity Bathroom Upgrade was delayed as a result of delays in completing the Keaney Building (Sub & non acute facility) and the need to plan the work around the best time to transfer patients to other wards in order for Calvary to still meet its service delivery obligations. The alternative to have undertaken staged upgrades, that is a room or two at a time, would have resulted in high cost penalties associated with undertaking the project that way.
b) To ensure that the project is fully completed within available funds, Calvary will decant the maternity wards in their entirety in October/November 2007 providing the contractors full access to the affected areas. This method of implementation will minimise the impact to operational costs and significantly shorten the implementation work schedule.
Electrical, Lift and Major Plant Upgrades
a) The Electrical project had been programmed to commence in November 2006 – the expected completion date of the Keaney Building. Subsequent delays in the completion of that facility, and the need to commit additional resources to that high priority project, resulted in the commencement of this project being delayed.
b) Expected completion date of this project is now August 2007 due to the delays in the delivery of equipment and poles.
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