The Rolleston health hub was initially proposed by the Selwyn District Council in 2017 to improve access to health services for Selwyn’s growing population. The Canterbury District Health Board then came on board as a partner and primary leaseholder.
The build was initially scheduled to get under way late last year, but was delayed while the tenants for the hub were being finalised.
CDHB executive director planning and funding and decision support Carolyn Gullery said it signed the lease on Wednesday, giving the council the go-ahead to begin construction, which is expected to start in early March.
The new hub will be built on land directly opposite the council offices in Rolleston, next to the St John’s ambulance base.
The council appointed construction firm Naylor Love to undertake the build.
It is set to cost about $14.7 million, and is being funded as a commercial investment.
Fitting out of the CDHB component of the hub will be an additional cost for the CDHB, and is yet to be confirmed.
It will have a primary birthing unit, plus community health services and will sit alongside a general practice, radiology and other community health and social services.
The facility will be built using the same co-design principles used in the Rangiora Health Hub and will take elements from its design.
Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton is delighted to see the project getting under way.
“Both organisations are looking to provide for the future needs of our Selwyn population, and this centre is a positive step.
“During consultation our community strongly endorsed the idea of having a wider range of health providers located in the district, reducing the need for the people of Selwyn to travel out of the district for care.
“From a Selwyn perspective, it will be part of the mix of amenities and facilities that make the district such an attractive place to buy a home and bring up a family.”
Discussions are well under way with the staff likely to be based at the new facility.
“This is a significant and exciting development for the Selwyn community to ensure we can provide sustainable health and social services for a dynamic and rapidly-growing community – and we fully support the council’s view that Rolleston is the best and ideal location for a new health hub," said Gullery.
“Our job is to provide the right services where people need them most, and we believe Rolleston is the right place for a fully integrated local health hub.”
“We have been talking with DHB maternity and dental staff about the planned facility. We will engage them in deciding its internal layout to ensure it works for them and for the people who use it.
“Both organisations are committed to engaging in a timely way for the community as plans develop."
Pacific Radiology will be located in the new health hub to provide patients with access to radiology services, including MRI, CT, ultrasound and X-rays.
Managing radiologist for the Canterbury region Jeremy Sharr said the project is an excellent example of the council working with its local community to identify ways it can support and meet the health care needs of New Zealand’s fastest growing residential communities.
“Our primary focus is to deliver world-class radiology, locally, and it’s fantastic to work with a council committed to increasing health services through a brand new, purpose built facility. We look forward to bringing our full range of services to the Selwyn community from the new Rolleston health hub next year.”
