BlueCross’s objective

To develop an existing facility to provide Aged Care services to the Whitehorse municipality.

Background

In 2008 BlueCross acquired an existing 50 bed Aged Care facility from the Whitehorse Council. As a condition of the sale, it committed to further develop the facility.

The 221 bedsit Residential Aged Care Facility in Box Hill was built over two stages, including a cold shell wing over three levels for 48 bedsits (constructed in Stage 1).

Stage 1 was completed in August 2018 and comprised generous bedsit resident suites and rooms, communal fire place lounges, dining rooms, kitchenette, club lounge bar, gymnasium, central kitchen, laundry, hairdressing service, clinical consulting rooms, café, staff training and amenities, loading dock, 80 space basement carpark and maintenance storage area.   

Johnstaff’s role

Johnstaff replaced the previous Project Manager and Superintendent after construction had commenced and while the project was suffering distress. 

Johnstaff’s Construction Services team also fitted out the three-level cold shell wing as part of Stage 2.

BlueCross Community & Residential Services, Box Hill

Addressing the issues

An important element of construction for Stage 1 was the delineation of services for the future fit out of the cold shell. These included electrical, hydraulic, communications and mechanical services. 
Johnstaff undertook extensive progress status reports, variation monitoring and tracking of RFIs and Superintendent Instructions to compensate for the adversarial contractual relationship and to provide adequate risk protection.

By using a Construction Management procurement model for Stage 2, while continuing to engage the majority of incumbent subcontractors from Stage 1, we were able to deliver the project on time and within budget. This approach also maintained consistency of systems between stages for nurse call, mechanical services and an overall level of detail and quality.


map of the project location

Outcomes

  • Distressed project recovered

  • Regular progress status reports, variation monitoring and tracking of RFIs and Superintendent Instructions compensated for the adversarial contractual relationship and provided adequate risk protection

  • Scope gaps from the first stage of works rectified