CPB Contractors' delivery of the first stage of the NSW Government's Nepean Hospital Redevelopment was recently awarded the Commercial Construction Award at the Australian Institute of Building's 2023 Professional Excellence in Building Awards. This prestigious award recognises the project's outstanding achievements in collaboration and sustainability – notably how the project created jobs and training opportunities, supported local businesses and reduced the environmental impact of construction.
A collaborative culture underpinned the successful delivery of the project and was established through initiatives such as:
- Co-locating all project staff – CPB Contractors, Health Infrastructure, Turner & Townsend and redevelopment staff from the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District – into one office complex.
- Championing a "hospital first" mentality across the delivery teams.
- Implementing a two-way collaboration process to minimise disruptions and build an understanding of both the project and the existing hospital requirements.
With more than 35% of the project's workforce hailing from the Greater Western Sydney region, CPB Contractors’ delivery of the Stage 1 project achieved a number of positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes. This included:
Building skills with local students
CPB Contractors delivered a skill and mentorship program, which provided career pathways to local Indigenous Australian Year 10 students with the desire to learn the construction trade. Ten local Indigenous high school students participated in the program, with students completing a Certificate II in Construction Pathways while completing their Higher School Certificate.
Local business engagement
CPB Contractors worked with more than 15 local businesses during the construction of the Stage 1 project. Western Sydney businesses and suppliers were engaged across various areas, including joinery, electrical, landscaping, plant hire and bricklaying.
Geotechnical testing
The project team undertook advanced geotechnical testing, soil sampling and inground services investigations during its Early Contractor Involvement phase. These investigations resulted in early access for services diversions, identification of a borrow pit strategy for solid waste, and reduced risk of damage to live inground services, mitigating disruption risk to hospital operations.
Community and stakeholder engagement
The project team collaborated closely with stakeholders to manage disruptive works and minimise the impact on patients, staff and the community. Initiatives included acoustic hoarding, testing and monitoring to minimise noise impacts to the childcare centre adjacent to the site; ensuring safe pedestrian and vehicular access to the hospital; and a community engagement campaign during the planning and design phase.
CPB Contractors' delivery of the project involved the construction of a new 14-storey hospital tower with a temporary and permanent link bridge connecting the tower to the existing hospital. Works on the project also included a new emergency department, birthing unit, day of surgery admission and endoscopy unit, operating theatres, sterile services department, coronary care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, in-patient units, plant rooms, and a helicopter landing site.
Following the successful delivery of the Stage 1 project, CPB Contractors has since been announced to develop the second stage of the expansion and upgrade of Nepean Hospital.