The $450 million project reached a milestone today, amid criticisms from the state opposition that it is lagging.
Proponents of the $450 million Murdoch Square development marked a milestone today amid criticism from the state opposition that the project is lagging.
Hesperia, Multiplex and Aegis Care Group today celebrated the topping-out of the five buildings at the healthcare precinct next to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch.
The $450 million development is the first stage of the state government’s plan to build a Murdoch Health and Knowledge Precinct, covering 1.2 hectares of land.
The precinct is set to include the state’s first Medihotel, a private hospital, urgent care clinic, aged-care facility, a childcare centre, and hospitality venues.
Murdoch Square is scheduled for completion in late 2023, with Multiplex to finish the internal fit-out and external installation.
Opposition health spokesperson Libby Mettam said the state government continued to drag its feet in delivering the project, with another delay in the final completion date.
She said today’s announcement that the facility would not be finished until 2024 was a reminder that the government can talk the talk but simply can’t deliver projects.
“This was one of the key election commitments announced before the 2017 election and was supposed to be finished in 2021,” Ms Mettam said.
“Yet six years on and it is still just a construction site.
“The whole aim of the Medihotel was supposed to free up hospital beds and ease pressure on emergency departments, yet despite the crisis in our health system, there doesn’t appear to be an urgency to get it finished.”
In March, Multiplex installed a 30-metre patient access bridge between Fiona Stanley Hospital and the 80-bed medihotel.
Hesperia managing director Ben Lisle said the company and Aegis were setting a new benchmark for innovative mixed-use developments across Australia.
“Murdoch Square brings together leading health, education, and hospitality providers to create a hub for patients, workers and the local community. It will create a unique southern city that will support the growth of our health and research sectors,” he said.
“The announcement that the new Women’s and Babies Hospital will be adjacent to Fiona Stanley Hospital is exciting and a welcome addition to the area.”
