Local students name cranes at new Shellharbour Hospital construction site

Two tower cranes supporting the delivery of the more than $780 million new Shellharbour Hospital will officially be known as “Anita Lift” and “Shane”, after being named by two local school students.

The ‘Name the Cranes’ competition received more than 130 creative entries from primary school children across the region, providing our community’s youngest residents the chance to engage in the new Shellharbour Hosptial. 

Seven year old Shellharbour Public School Student Zoe Green came up with the name ‘Shane’ and seven year old Lainey Anger from Pleasant Heights Primary School who picked the name ‘Anita Lift’ were announced as the winners of the ‘Name the Cranes’ competition.

Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said the winning names, Anita Lift and Shane, are now prominently displayed on the cranes, which stand at just over 52 and 45 metres tall, and can be seen from the northern and southern approach on the Princes Motorway.

Congratulations to Zoe and Lainey and thank you to all students who submitted a creative entry. It was fantastic to see so many schools embrace the opportunity to help name our new cranes, which will be landmarks in the region as we progress construction of the new hospital,” Ms Watson said. 

“The cranes will be used to construct the new seven storey hospital, which will deliver contemporary and expanded hospital services and integrated health facilities for the Shellharbour region.

“The new hospital will help deliver better health outcomes for the community now and into the future, so to involve school children in the project in a fun and practical way is incredibly rewarding."

The winning names, along with several runners up, were selected by staff at Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, representatives from construction contractor BESIX Watpac, project managers Savills, and Health Infrastructure.

The new Shellharbour Hospital is progressing and expected to be completed in 2027.