Cockram to build Katanning Health Service

Cockram Construction has won a $20.4 million contract for redevelopment of the Katanning Health Service.

Under the contract, Cockram will build a new emergency department and medical imaging department, a new outpatient care facility, a refurbished surgical services and associated sterilising department, a new laundry and a new morgue.

The first stage of the $32.4 million project, which included relocation of site services, demolotion of the current laundry and morgue buildings and bulk earthworks for the new building, was completed last week.

Health Minister John Day said building would start late next month, with completion expected within two years.

“The existing hospital will remain operational during the redevelopment,” Mr Day said.

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said refurbishment of the facility was funded by the state government’s Royalties for Regions program.

"Improvements to infrastructure and service delivery, such as the construction of the new Katanning Health Service, will enable a greater number of patients to be treated regionally, reducing the need for travel away from family to other larger facilities in the regions or to metropolitan sites," Mr Redman said.

Cockram is also building the Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute in Nedlands under a $30.3 million contract, and has also been involved in construction of a number of education centres and schools including Rivergums Primary School, Willeton Senior High School and Hammond Park Primary School.

The company is also undertaking refurbishment work at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service building on Wellington Street in the city.