Dhelkaya Health (formerly Castlemaine Health) is preparing to undertake the planned demolition of the old nurses’ quarters at the former Halford Street hospital site.
Following the November 2022 announcement of funding to Dhelkaya Health from the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF), the first of the works are almost ready to take place and the local health organisation held consultation sessions with local community members about the planned works this week.
Dhelkaya Health director infrastructure technology and assets Justin Sawyers said the old nurses’ quarters that sit on the corner of Myring and Hargraves Streets were decommissioned around 25 years ago.
“Given the buildings have lay empty all this time means that they have become unsafe so this funding will see that particular building demolished.”
The competitive tender process has seen Digga Group take on the work.
“This is exciting to see because this company offer experience in building demolition and provide expertise when it comes to quality and safety procedures, and sustainability. They have a target of 95 per cent reuse, recycle or resell of the building materials taken from sites like this,” Mr Sawyers said.
Digga Group will install a site office, temporary fencing and signage in preparation for the demolition works to begin, and safely remove and transport any hazardous materials from the premises.
The demolition works are due to commence on May 1 and are expected to take approximately three weeks to complete.
The adjacent building and offices on the Halford Street site, which are currently leased by Workspace Australia, will remain intact. These buildings and offices are run as an incubator for business start-ups and are occupied by up to 80 small local businesses and while there are no agreed plans yet for the Halford Street site’s future purpose, the demolition of the unoccupied nurses’ quarters opens up options for future use.
Dhelkaya Health board chair Vanessa Healy said while they have lots of ideas, they don’t yet know what the Halford Street site will look like in the future.
“But we do know it will be safer and more secure for those who work and live nearby thanks to this funding,” Ms Healy said.
