Important documents regarding the Dunedin Hospital structure have not yet been released

Three key documents related to the beleaguered Dunedin Hospital building project have not yet been released.

Dunedin mayor and locals He questioned the government’s claim that the cost could rise to $3 billionhe calls it a “smokescreen.”

Ministers published a report by an Australian expert in May that said the $1.88 billion approved budget was probably not enough.

But the Rust report also noted: “Over the next few months the project will receive (or at least should receive) three key cost-related deliverables that will provide greater cost certainty.”

These three reports include a new quantity surveyor’s estimate by June, a contractor’s target total cost in July, and a risk assessment by August.

In the report, it was recommended to postpone the registration for the second stage inpatient block in line with the detailed design, and the cost estimates were also updated.

Health Minister Shane Reti’s office confirmed Monday that three reports had not been released.

His office said RNZ could request them under the Official Information Act and it was hoped they would be proactively released soon.

Mayor Jules Radich accused the government of adding “extra costs” that were not covered, such as car parks and the refurbishment of the old clinical services block and ward block.

But the Rust report shows that in March the Cabinet was told some things “important to the completion of the project” were being left out, including parking (a cost was omitted) and renovation or demolition work that could cost $325. million, but uncertainty is rife and the estimates “should be treated with a high degree of caution,” the report says.

The $1.88 billion construction budget does not include the $225 million approved for new data and digital services, even though they are an integral part of every hospital.

In total, the construction budget reaches 2.1 billion dollars.