Progress continues on new Buller Health Centre

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

Building work on a single new health facility to replace Westport’s old hospital complex is beginning to make tangible progress, as seen in this view of the site taken last week.

The framework for Buller Health Centre, on the flood-prone north-western side of the town, is now standing.

The size and extent of the building’s footprint can now be seen - taking up much of the block bounded by Cobden, Derby and Pakington streets.

It is also being built on a raised foundation of about 1 metre to future-proof the facility from flooding.

The new $20 million-plus facility has had a checkered history since the rebuild was first mooted back in 2011.

Work on the new hospital building, just south of the current main Westport Hospital block, was initially announced as a $30m rebuild in 2011 before being downgraded to a $12m ‘integrated family health centre’.

It was then re-announced as a $20m build by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in a 2017 election pledge.

The project started to sputter into life at the end of 2019 when demolition of some buildings got under way.

The West Coast DHB recently said the rebuild was on schedule and the expected completion time frame should be by mid-2023.