Major roof leaks found in Prince of Wales Hospital development

By JOHN MOYLE

The Prince of Wales Hospital is a major publicly owned 440 bed health and teaching facility located in Randwick and has operated from its present site since 1870. In 2018 it entered into a deal with the University of New South Wales to increase its teaching facilities, patient and emergency department.

Critical to these plans is the $782.8 million 10 level Acute Services Building housing around 20 departments crucial to the overall expansion of the campus.

In the 2022-23 budget NSW committed an extra $82.5 million to the project bringing it to $865.3 million.

Lendlease were appointed as constructors.

The premises were due to open in September 2022, which was pushed out to January 2023.

It was originally planned to take two weeks to move everyone into their new locations. This was delayed again until Monday 27th February, and then cancelled.

The public were invited to tour the premises on February the 9th, but were only given access to selected areas and with little fanfare.

City Hub can now report that the reasons for this was due to major leaks in the area of the rooftop helipad and the new emergency department.

Hospital says storm damage impacted construction

When approached for comment the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, speaking for the Prince of Wales replied “Major construction works were completed and handed over to South Eastern Sydney Local Health District in late 2022.”

Commenting on the leaks they replied “On 9th February, during a significant storm, the temporary construction interface between the main building and the UNSW Eastern Extension experienced leaks.”

It is understood that there have also been serious issues with the public walkway, which has been closed to staff access since December 23.

On March 01, trades were still finishing the main foyer.

Internal documents given to City Hub state that the information desk and community management centre were meant to be in situ by Monday February 27.

By Tuesday March 7 respiratory and infectious disease was to move to level 7 North and a day later haematology and oncology were to move into level 4 North.

Lendlease were approached to comment on six questions, including ones relating to the helipad, emergency department and public walkway leaks.

Another question asked about if the project was on time and on budget.

Lendlease replied stating “We understand that a similar enquiry has been submitted to Health NSW who will respond to you directly.”

Previous issues impact area

These issues are not the first to plague the new Prince of Wales development.

Back in 2018, when Dominic Perottet was treasurer and Brad Hazzard health minister, there was controversy over the manner in which the compulsory acquisition of houses in the area were conducted.

To create space for the new premises 53 houses on Eurimbla Street, 28 houses on Botany Street and eight houses on Magill Street were purchased by the state.

These included the Eurimbla Street property owned by 88 year-old Eileen Collins, whose advanced years belied her anger at having to move from her home of 46 years.

There were also accusations by property owners that they were being notified of the forced acquisitions by notes pushed under the door, along with further claims that their properties were being seriously undervalued by the state.

Throughout the project the Prince of Wales and the University of New South Wales have cited the public good over any criticism of how they have conducted themselves.

It seems that they have not learned any lessons on public accountability as they continue to obfuscate about questions which the public have a right to know the answers to, particularly on the eve of a state election.