The redevelopment of Wallaceburg’s hospital is moving into the final planning phase thanks to new funding from the Ontario government.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has received a $2.5 million capital planning grant from the province, which will support the completion of the final stages of the provincial capital planning process.
These stages involve the development of an advanced sketch plan report and an integrated site plan, as well as the creation of final contract documents.
“What this planning grant allows us to do [is] it allows us to put all the drawings together, all of the blueprints, all of the electrical details, all of the final, final plans that will then go out to tender,” said CKHA President and CEO Adam Topp.
Topp said the comprehensive design plans will be submitted to the Ministry of Health sometime in May.
“It was nice to get that final planning grant so that we could do this last piece of work,” he said. “This is great that it’s finally come, and we can get to this absolute final step in the process.”
Once given provincial approval, the project will go to tender for construction.
The full cost of the revitalization project has been estimated at $41 million, with 10 per cent of the construction costs to be raised locally. More than $7 million has been raised to-date, with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent having committed $4.5 million to the redevelopment during its 2023 budget process.