Grafton Base Hospital Redevelopment boosted with $20 million to enhance maternity care
Pregnant women and their families across the Clarence Valley will benefit from an upgraded purpose-built maternity unit as part of the Grafton Base Hospital Redevelopment, following a $20 million funding boost from the NSW Government.
Announced as part of the 2026-27 State Budget, the additional investment will deliver a contemporary maternity unit with dedicated birthing rooms and improved inpatient accommodation.
It brings the total contribution for the Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment to $283.8 million and will also enable the decommissioning and demolition of the existing unit.
Once complete, the purpose-built maternity unit will support the delivery of individualised, high quality and safe maternity care for families in the region.
The new unit forms part of the redevelopment which will deliver modern, purpose-built and enhanced health services, including a new multi-storey acute services building, to help meet the growing needs of Grafton and surrounding communities.
Work to deliver the project recently reached a major milestone, with the main works contractor appointed and construction set to begin in the coming weeks.
Richard Crookes Constructions has been appointed to deliver the main works, following a competitive tender process and planning approval. Site establishment works will begin on site shortly, with main works construction to follow.
The new and enhanced facilities will provide contemporary, purpose-built facilities, transforming healthcare for the region and supporting staff to continue to deliver safe, high-quality for the region, now and into the future.
The acute services building will deliver an Emergency Department, emergency short stay, medical imaging department including an MRI suite, inpatient unit and maternity unit.
Additional upgrades include welcoming outdoor courtyards, improved ambulance access via Queen Street and increased parking.
Early works for the redevelopment are progressing, including the refurbishment of two administration blocks within a section of the old Grafton Gaol and near the hospital main entry. The new Administration and Workforce Development Precinct will provide contemporary administration, office, and training support facilities for hospital staff, and is expected to be completed in the coming months.
In addition, as part of the $200.1 million Key Health Worker Accommodation program, the NSW Government is delivering 36 units to accommodate staff in Grafton, as part of its $34.2 million allocation to deliver housing in Grafton, Lismore and Tweed.
Stage 1 of the Key Health Worker Accommodation program is expected to begin in mid-2026, subject to statutory planning approvals and the appointment of a building contractor.
All hospital services, including maternity services, will continue to operate during construction to ensure uninterrupted care for the community.
The appointment of the main works contractor follows planning approval of the project’s Review of Environmental Factors (REF), which was placed on public exhibition in late 2025.