The new Bundaberg Hospital project has reached a major construction milestone, with piling works now underway on site.
Three 140-tonne piling rigs are currently installing about 460 foundation piles, which will form the foundations of the future hospital buildings. Each pile extends up to 39 metres below ground, helping create the support needed for one of the region's largest healthcare infrastructure projects.
Over the coming months, crews will pour around 10,000 cubic metres of concrete before construction progresses to the concrete foundations and above-ground structures.
While in Bundaberg on 4 August 2026, Health Minister Tim Nicholls and Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett joined representatives from Health Infrastructure Queensland, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board and Service, CPB Contractors, clinicians and consumers onsite to celebrate the milestone.
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Debbie Carroll said the commencement of piling marked an exciting new chapter for the project.
"With piling now underway, we're entering the stage where the community will begin to see the new hospital emerge from the ground,” Debbie said.
"This is a project our community has been looking forward to for many years, and it's fantastic to see such visible progress being made.
"We're expecting to see tower cranes arrive on site later this year, which will be another significant milestone in the journey to delivering the new Bundaberg Hospital."
WBHHS Executive Director, Capital Projects, Peter Heath said the milestone reflected years of planning and collaboration.
"This project will deliver a modern healthcare facility designed around the needs of our patients, staff and community,” Peter said.
"Consumers, clinicians and staff have played an important role throughout the planning and design process, helping shape a hospital that is welcoming, inclusive and ready to meet the future needs of the Wide Bay region."
Health Infrastructure Queensland Project Director Matthew Shuker said the milestone was also a celebration of the strong partnerships behind the project.
"Today's milestone recognises the collaboration that has brought us to this point, with site preparation complete and piling works now underway,” Matthew said.
"Together, we're delivering a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that will serve the Bundaberg and broader regional communities for decades to come."
The new hospital is being delivered by Health Infrastructure Queensland in partnership with WBHHS and CPB Contractors.
Stage 1 of the project will deliver substantial new healthcare infrastructure for the region and is the first step in a broader vision for a modern health campus. It remains on track for completion in 2031.
To learn more about the project, head to https://www.widebay.health.qld.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-centres/bundaberg-hospital/new-bundaberg-hospital-project.