Rio Tinto is set to invest $40 million towards the redevelopment of the Paraburdoo Hospital and the construction of a new Tom Price Hospital.
Of the $40 million pledged by Rio, $20 million will upgrade the Paraburdoo Hospital so it comprises contemporary purpose-built facilities to support medical services for the Pilbara community, including new rooms for the general practitioner.
The redevelopment of the Paraburdoo Hospital is the first project to receive funding through the Resources Community Investment Initiative (RCII).
RCII is a major partnership between the Western Australian Government and the resources sector that invests in infrastructure projects and community and social initiatives in WA. Rio’s funding for the Paraburdoo Hospital will come from the $250 million it committed in 2022.
The remaining $20 million from Rio will go towards the Tom Price Hospital project, following the major miner’s first $20 million pledge in 2021.
“We’ve been part of the Pilbara region for almost 60 years and have a strong commitment to the communities of Tom Price and Paraburdoo,” Rio Tinto rail, ports and core services managing director Richard Cohen said.
“We understand health services are very important to both communities to ensure the ongoing health, safety and wellbeing of people and their families living in both towns.
“We have been working with the State Government to support the delivery of a new Tom Price Hospital and are proud to be able to make a significant contribution to the major redevelopment of Paraburdoo Hospital.”
The extra $20 million for Tom Price will go towards upgrades such as a modern emergency department, contemporary facilities for visiting services with private interview and consulting rooms, and a four-bed inpatient ward.
It will also allow early construction works to start on site while design and works for the remainder of the project progress simultaneously, as per the WA Government’s new procurement that aims to create a larger package of work that is more attractive to potential contractors.
“We welcome the State Government’s new procurement approach and look forward to seeing these important projects take shape in the near future,” Cohen said.
WA Premier Roger Cook welcomed the support from Rio Tinto.
“This innovative approach allows Government to work collaboratively with a construction contractor to urgently deliver the works at Tom Price and Paraburdoo Hospitals, with support from Rio Tinto,” Cook said.
“We are getting on with the job of delivering these major health infrastructure projects, by creating a larger package of works that will be more attractive to future contractors. Staff at both Tom Price Hospital and Paraburdoo Hospital continue to deliver excellent care to the local community, and I thank them for all they do.”
The WA Government expects for a tender to be released for Paraburdoo and Tom Price next month, with a contract likely to be awarded in November and works at Tom Price to begin soon after.
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