Site and construction
|
Construction update - July 2009
|
The Inpatient Buliding is now clearly recognisable. All the windows have been installed and much of the façade has been finished. Glass panels are being fixed to the remainder of the level three exterior.
Inside the Inpatient Building, the location and layout of bedrooms can also be clearly seen with service installation well underway and fit-out to commence soon. Areas designated as landscaped courtyards and gardens, both open air and glass-enclosed central atriums, are also now clearly visible.
In the East Building, the pouring of level one has been completed, with level two close to completion, while on level three, formwork is now underway.
The ground floor of the West Building in now in place, and the completion of level one progressing well. The first pour on level two has also been completed.
Currently around 600 construction workers are on-site, with 1,500 expected at the peak of construction. They include carpenters, electricians, plumbers, plasterers, mechanical plumbers, form workers and of course, crane drivers. In addition to the construction workers there are also around 230 staff managing the design and construction process being architects, engineers, interior designers and numerous specialist consultants.
|
Noise, dust & vibration
|
Major earthworks are well underway on the site of the new RCH.
With a fully functioning hospital located next door, it is essential that noise, dust and other disruptions, such as vibration from equipment, be kept to a minimum.
Initiatives such as erecting solid hoardings, sealing temporary haul roads, watering site, installation of additional filters in hospital air handling units (in consultation with RCH), regular monitoring of noise and vibration levels within the hospital, truck washdown, road sweeper to Flemington Road and regular consultation with staff and management of RCH have been implemented in order to minimise disruption to the operation of the hospital and the delivery of healthcare.
Permits have been granted to use mains water while the on site water storage and recycling facilities are constructed.
Similar initiatives were successfully implemented during the demolition, excavation and construction phases of the new Austin Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women Project in Heidelberg and the new Royal Women’s Hospital in Parkville. In addition the builder, Bovis Lend Lease, has extensive experience in construction projects adjacent to functioning hospitals.
|
Trees
|
Site clearing including the removal of a limited number of trees took place in December 2007. The State, in collaboration with the Children’s Health Partnership, City of Melbourne and relevant experts, has developed a plan to identify significant vegetation to be retained, and a program for the protection, relocation and replacement of some of the trees impacted by construction activities. The plan focuses on avoiding impact wherever possible, then aims to minimise and off-set any impact on Royal Park.
Once the new hospital is complete, much of the old site will be demolished and restored as parkland, with no net loss in parkland and a net gain in vegetation.
|
