Construction of a $24 million cancer wellness centre in Hobart is set to begin next year, with the facility expected to open in late 2027 or early 2028.
Fairbrother has been appointed to build the centre directly across from the Royal Hobart Hospital, marking a milestone after four years of planning.
The state government has committed $10 million to the project, with those behind the project now seeking matching federal funding to reach the full $24 million budget.
Around $12 million has been secured so far.
Scott Harris from SHE said moving into the construction phase was a major step forward, especially with council approval already in place.
“It’s been a long time coming, four years of work to get it to this point, so we’re incredibly excited that this day has come,” he said.
“We’ve still got a bit of a way to go. We’ve still got to secure some funding and we’re really hopeful that the federal government might get in behind the commitment that the state government have provided.”
Harris said several philanthropists had indicated they would support the project if federal funding is secured.
He said the centre would help close a gap in Tasmania’s cancer care compared with other states, something he understands personally after losing his wife to the disease.
“This facility will change lives. It will give people somewhere calm, restorative and human during what can be the most difficult time imaginable,” he said.
Fairbrother’s Paul Ransley said the company’s early involvement would help shape the project while maintaining the heritage building’s facade.
“The luxury of bringing us in early as a partner is to try and maximise the outcome of the buildability, designability and affordability,” he said.
The University of Tasmania is also partnering on the development as the building owner.
