Artist's drawing of the new Bundaberg Hospital set among gardens and walking paths

We're working on a project to build a bigger and better Bundaberg Hospital on a new site at Thabeban.

Our project is one of the largest in Queensland and includes:

  • more beds and operating rooms
  • new medical and surgical wards
  • more health care services.

The new hospital will serve our growing and ageing community and help you get more of the care you need close to home.

Why we're expanding

Our regional population is growing and more people will need access to quality health care in our area.

Bundaberg Hospital is also one of our busiest hospitals and provides specialist health services for patients across Wide Bay. Building a new Bundaberg Hospital on a new site will make sure we meet the needs of our community, now and in the future.

We're planning the project based on:

  • our medical and clinical health service needs
  • information about our population and expected growth
  • feedback and consultation with our patients and community
  • advice from builders, engineers and design experts
  • feedback from our staff, nurses, doctors and clinical experts.

What we're building

The new Bundaberg Hospital building program includes the following building and services upgrades.

  • At least 139 new overnight beds

  • Larger emergency department

  • New operating rooms, with support for cardiology procedures

  • New clinical services building and a rooftop helipad

  • Larger range of outpatient and diagnostic services

  • Acute mental health inpatient unit

  • Teaching, training and research spaces

  • Support services building with 3 levels

Where we're building the new hospital

The new hospital will be located near Bundaberg Ring Road and Kay McDuff Drive.

You’ll likely be able to use buses, ride-share, walkways and bike paths to get to hospital. We’re looking at different ways to help people get there.

We want to make sure there’s enough parking when you come to hospital. Queensland Health is looking at options as part of a separate project. Parking will be safe and affordable.

Map of the new Bundaberg Hospital site near Bundaberg Ring Road and Kay McDuff Drive. Bundaberg Airport is nearby, to the west. The central business district, railway station and the old Bundaberg Hospital are to the north.

Timeline

The timeline and dates may change.

Artists impression of new operating hospital beds and facilities

March 2023 – New hospital access road completed


May 2024 – Onsite early works start


Queensland Health is currently developing a staging plan following the release of the Queensland Government’s Hospital Rescue Plan in April 2025.

An updated project timeline will be provided once the plan is finalised.

Plans for the old hospital

The Queensland Government Hospital Rescue Plan proposes a new design that transfers all services and beds to the new site at Thabeban. Planning will be undertaken to determine the future use of the current site on Bourbong Street.

Jobs

As we grow and finish our upgrades, we’ll need new staff members to join our team. We'll have jobs across all areas including nursing, medicine, allied health, pharmacy and business support.

You can search our vacancies or register your interest for future jobs when our new hospital opens.

Jobs in construction

Building the hospital will create many construction job opportunities.

If you'd like to apply for construction jobs or trade contracts you can express your interest:

CPB Contractors will deliver the detailed design and early works for the project in Stage 1. Under the Queensland Government's two-stage contractor model, they must deliver a value for money guaranteed price for the project before main works construction begins in Stage 2.

Get involved

We’re working with people and groups from our community to help plan the upgrades and get feedback. This includes holding:

  • user group sessions where we co-design clinical and public spaces with architects and clinicians
  • consultations about the look and design of the upgrades and wayfinding strategy
  • training and work experience opportunities for local school students.

We're also working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Traditional Owners to make sure the new hospital is welcoming and culturally safe.

Latest news

Environment

On 19 April 2024, the new Bundaberg Hospital project was granted Environment Protection and Biosecurity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) approval with conditions (approval number EPBC 2022/09397).

Condition 44 of the approval requires Queensland Health to prepare and publish an annual report that demonstrates compliance with each of the conditions of the approval. The decision notice and compliance report are available below:

Contact us