Community consultations on the initial design concepts for the Norfolk Island Multipurpose Health Services Facility (MPHS) project are set to commence from 11 September.
GHD Pty Ltd, the design services contractor engaged by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (the department), initiated the design process by engaging with stakeholders in two stages.
The first stage involved targeted meetings with local utilities and health service staff and preliminary site investigations to gather specific technical information to inform initial design options.
The second stage, which is about to start, involves engagement with the broader Norfolk Island community on potential design solutions.
All consultations will be undertaken in a COVID-safe way.
Design information will be made available to the community through the department’s website (www.regional.gov.au/territories/norfolk_island/norfolk_island_health_services/Multipurpose-Health-Services-Facility-Project.aspx) from 11 September. Then in the week of 14 September, the community will have the opportunity to engage with the design team through virtual drop-in sessions. Written feedback can then be provided in coming weeks, closing on 25 September 2020.
More detailed information on this consultation process, including when and how the community will be able to engage with the design team, will be provided next week and posted on the MPHS webpage.
It is important to keep in mind that these consultations are part of the design stage for the project. Progression to the construction stage is subject to Government budget and parliamentary approval processes which are anticipated to commence in late 2021.
I also take this opportunity to acknowledge that there are multiple consultations taking place on a number of projects, all of which are important initiatives where community input is critical to their successful outcomes. I thank the community for your patience as these consultations respond to interruptions in response to COVID-19 restrictions and for taking your time to engage and offer your feedback on each and all of these projects over this period.
If you have any questions in relation to the ongoing consultations, please contact the Office of the Administrator by email: office.administrator@regional.gov.au or phone 22152.
Eric Hutchinson
Administrator of Norfolk Island
3 September 2020