Project Maunga Site Investigation Drilling

21 October 2009

Site investigation drilling is taking place this week in preparation for the redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, Project Maunga.

Samples will be taken to identify the type of soil and sub-soil there is under the construction site.

Project Director Ian Grant, of NCOUNTER GROUP, says the tests will help determine the types of foundations needed for the redevelopment and what is required to mitigate any earthquake risk.

Building engineering consultants Beca will be undertaking the testing.

The test sites are in the doctors’ car park near the main entrance of the hospital and the afternoon staff car park at the rear of the site. Further test sites are on grassed areas near the afternoon staff car park.

Taranaki DHB Chief Executive Tony Foulkes says the geotechnical work is the first physical work undertaken as part of Project Maunga. “These tests are critical to the progress of Project Maunga.”

The redevelopment could ultimately include three stages in the total redevelopment programme which will be phased over five years. It is the first stage which is being progressed now.
The Ministry of Health will fund $43 million for stage one of the redevelopment of an estimated $80 million. The remainder will be funded by the DHB.

Stage one includes six new operating theatres (an increase of two), ambulatory elective surgery and procedure services, and a new inpatient ward block. The new operating theatres will allow more operations to be carried out. It will consolidate elective ambulatory, acute and inpatient services. There will be 152 new beds, an overall increase of 26.

For more information please call

Sue Carrington
Media Advisor
Tel 021 367 789

Last updated: Tuesday, November 24, 2009