John Hunter Hospital Innovation Precinct awards enabling works contract

Global construction company Multiplex has won the enabling works contract for the $835 million John Hunter Hospital Innovation Precinct (JHHIP), a project delivered in partnership with Heath Infrastructure and Hunter New England Local Health District.

Located in New Lambton, JHHIP will deliver an innovative and integrated new health precinct to meet the growing needs of the Newcastle, greater Hunter and northern NSW regions.

JHHIP is part of the NSW Government’s $10.8 billion investment in health infrastructure to 2024.

Designed by BVN, the project will see the existing John Hunter and John Hunter Children’s Hospitals redeveloped to include a brand new seven-level Acute Services Building (ASB) along with refurbishment to parts of the existing hospital.

The project will significantly increase critical care capacity, with a 60% increase in intensive care unit capacity and almost 50% more theatres. The new emergency department will see treatment spaces for patients increase by more than 50% and there will be new spaces for women and children including paediatric and neonatal intensive care units, as well as two new inpatient units.

Multiplex will deliver its 15th Connectivity Centre as part of the project — a physical hub to bring together employment and support services and connect local job seekers with opportunities on the project and beyond.

Multiplex Regional Managing Director David Ghannoum said, “The Connectivity Centre is a proven model which we successfully rolled out on our Maitland Hospital Project.” The company will commence enabling works for the project next month with expected completion in early 2026.

In recent years, Multiplex has also delivered the Westmead Hospital Redevelopment and Liverpool Hospital enabling works.