Project Overview
The Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment is a $53 million investment in modernising health services for the Gunnedah region. The project includes a new acute services building constructed on the existing hospital campus, which connects seamlessly with the original facility. Key upgrades include an expanded emergency department, new birthing, maternity and inpatient units, a welcoming main entry and reception, ambulance bays, and landscaped courtyards designed to support wellbeing.
Situated on Kamilaroi Country, this project carries deep personal meaning for Lachlan. Both his father and grandmother were born in the original Gunnedah Hospital. As a proud Kamilaroi man, Lachlan sees the redevelopment not just as infrastructure – but as a legacy project for his community and family.
Our Involvement
Lachlan has served as the Project Director on the Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment from project inception through to delivery, contracted via NSW Health Infrastructure. In this role, he has led every phase of the capital works lifecycle – from site investigations and master planning, through to procurement, construction delivery, and commissioning.
Responsibilities have included:
- Leading multidisciplinary teams and technical workstreams across planning, design, procurement, and delivery
- Developing project and functional briefs aligned to mental health service needs
- Facilitating engagement with the Local Health District, NSW Ministry of Health, clinical teams, and lived experience stakeholders
- Managing procurement strategy, contractor coordination, and complex construction logistics
- Monitoring risks, reporting on milestones, and ensuring the project remains clinically appropriate, culturally respectful, and operationally sound
With a focus on collaboration, stakeholder alignment, and continuous improvement, Lachlan has consistently delivered results in a dynamic and complex project environment – ensuring community, cultural, and operational outcomes remain front and centre.
Our Approach
Mara Ba Kumba’s approach is grounded in connection to Country, cultural responsibility, and deep respect for community. Our role on this project has gone beyond coordination – it’s been about building trust, creating space for open dialogue, and navigating complexity with care.
Drawing on his background in both project delivery and service innovation, Lachlan led with strategy and calm under pressure. He brought people together across government, clinical teams, and the local community to solve problems collaboratively and keep the project moving forward.
Legacy & Impact
The new Gunnedah Hospital will offer modern, expanded care close to home – improving outcomes for patients, supporting staff, and creating a more welcoming space for Aboriginal families.
Key impacts include:
- Delivery of a new acute services building, integrated with the existing hospital campus
- Expanded emergency department, birthing, maternity and inpatient units
- Improved patient flow and access through a new main entry and reception
- Purpose-built ambulance bays and landscaped courtyards to enhance the care environment
- Staged delivery on a live hospital site with minimal disruption to services
- Embedded cultural design elements and community engagement throughout the project lifecycle
For Mara Ba Kumba, the project represents more than infrastructure. It’s a contribution to Country and community – a chance to give back to the place our family began, and to support the next generation of Gunnedah locals.
From the outset, he was dependable, organised, and could be trusted to get on with the job while keeping me looped in when it mattered. That kind of judgement is hard to teach, and it made working together very easy – especially in environments that were often politically complex and resource constrained.
