Long-Promised Mackay Base Hospital Upgrades Edge Closer As Plans Take Shape

After years of community concern about overcrowding, limited parking and pressure on local health services, Mackay Base Hospital’s long-awaited expansion is now moving into a defined planning and delivery phase, with further announcements expected in the New Year.

On December 19, 2025, Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton said the focus was on resetting the hospital’s direction and restoring confidence after what he described as a prolonged period without a workable plan.

“Today is about the hospital rescue plan… getting hospitals back on track after 10 years of decline,” Mr Dalton said.

“We’re now putting in the hard work on a plan that will make this hospital one of the best.”

“It’s about giving the community confidence in what this hospital will look like into the future.”

Health Infrastructure Queensland (HIQ) representative Sam Sangster confirmed the project is now guided by a comprehensive master planning process, designed to shape development over the next several decades.

“Today we’re talking about the re-planning that will now occur here, starting with a comprehensive master planning exercise,” Mr Sangster said.

“This was one of the projects where construction had started without a master plan, which is not how you normally plan a hospital.”

“We are now doing the work that should have been done some time ago to build this hospital for the community, for the long term.”

All elements of the hospital expansion plan will proceed, including a new hospital wing, a multi-storey car park, a helipad and a birth centre. Local builders and contractors will also have opportunities to be involved in upcoming stages of the project.

Car parking, a long-standing frustration for patients, visitors and staff, has been identified as an urgent priority.

“In the New Year we’ll commence procurement of the multi-level car park, with interim parking solutions also to be announced,” Mr Sangster said.

“Car parking is such a critical issue, particularly on this site, and we’re treating that as an urgent priority.”

When complete, Mackay Base Hospital is expected to have around 1660 parking spaces, which is approximately 600 more than currently available. An interim parking solution is being developed to ease congestion while construction of the new car park is underway.

Stage One works for the new hospital wing have already been completed, including excavation, site remediation and utilities installation. Work on the broader master plan is continuing to ensure future development meets the needs of both clinicians and the community.

Planning is also underway to deliver cancer care services locally.

“Mackay is one of the regional locations where infrastructure planning will now begin to deliver cancer care closer to home,” Mr Sangster said.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service Interim Chief Executive Sean Birgan said access, patient flow and site congestion remain major challenges.

“Patients, families and staff would all agree that car parking is one of our biggest challenges,” Mr Birgan said.

“The best healthcare we provide our patients is planned care, and the best capital planning is no different.”

Expressions of interest from local builders for construction of the multi-storey car park and other expansion works are expected to open in January 2026, with further updates to follow in the New Year.

‍

Health Infrastructure Queensland (HIQ) representative Sam Sangster, Mackay Hospital and Health Service Interim Chief Executive Sean Birgan and Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton met at Mackay Base Hospital on December 19 to discuss a 2026 rescue plan. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

‍