Site and construction
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Construction update - June 2008
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With over 90 per cent of the excavation complete work on the physical structure of the new RCH is underway.
Pouring of the Ground Level suspended slab will commence next week. Stairwells are under construction and currently stand at a height of 3 to 6 levels.
Following excavation, vehicles delivering concrete, form work and other items necessary to build the new RCH will begin to appear on site.
The footings of the main building have also commenced.
Along the Flemington Road frontage a new two story building has been assembled. This will be the new site office and will ultimately house around 150 people.
Finally, crane 2, named after RCH patient Alexander has been erected. The final six cranes will be erected later this year.
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Noise, dust & vibration
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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.
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Trees
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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.
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