Modular construction drives healthcare expansion and affordable housing in Queensland

The Queensland Government is taking significant steps to address housing and healthcare needs in the state through innovative modular construction projects. In Gympie, Volo Modular is leading the construction of 11 modular homes, while in Hervey Bay, a new 24-bed modular medical ward is set to be built at the Hervey Bay Hospital.

The Gympie project, located at 4 Pringle Court, involves the design and construction of two-bedroom modular houses. Factory works commenced in October 2023 and concluded in November 2023, while on-site work is ongoing and expected to finish by May 2024. These homes are part of the Queensland Government’s efforts to provide more housing for its residents.

Minister Scanlon highlighted the advantages of modular homes, stating, “Modular homes speed up how quickly we can deliver housing, as both the construction of the home and site preparation can occur at the same time, unlike traditional methods of construction. Modular homes are just one way we’re delivering more homes for Queenslanders.”

Volo Modular has been instrumental in this project. The company, with over 18 years of experience in modular construction, has been working in conjunction with QBuild under the modern methods of construction (MMC) program. The project aims to alleviate the housing shortage in Queensland by leveraging the efficiency of modular building techniques. A spokesperson from Volo Modular explained, “The strength of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is that both stages of the process can run in parallel, unlike traditional methods of construction where one process follows the other.”

The homes were manufactured at Volo Modular’s Yatala facility and transported to Gympie over two days in November 2023. Despite challenging weather conditions, the project remained on track.

New modular hospital ward for Hervey Bay.
In Hervey Bay, the Queensland Government has announced the construction of a new 24-bed modular medical ward at the Hervey Bay Hospital. This project is part of the broader expansion efforts at the hospital and aims to meet the growing healthcare needs of the Fraser Coast community. Minister for Health, Shannon Fentiman, stated, “We are building the facilities that will continue to deliver world-class healthcare for the Hervey Bay community close to home for years to come.”

The new ward will be a general medical ward connected to the main hospital building by an enclosed walkway, improving patient flow between the emergency department and the surgical ward. The modular design allows for faster construction and reduced disruption to hospital operations. Debbie Carroll, Wide Bay HHS Chief Executive, noted, “By using a modular design, we can have a fully staffed ward up and running much faster than relying on traditional onsite construction.”

An additional 60 full-time healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, will be employed to staff the new ward. Member for Hervey Bay, Adrian Tantari, emphasised the benefits, saying, “The new 24-bed modular medical ward will ensure we continue to meet growing demand for healthcare services in the region for years to come. It will improve flow between the emergency department and the wards, further supporting our busy hospital and hard-working health heroes.”

The Hervey Bay project is expected to be completed by the end of the year and complements the ongoing expansion of the hospital, which includes a new 25-bed inpatient ward, a 10-bed Intensive Care Unit, and a rooftop helipad. This initiative is part of the Queensland Government’s $14 billion Health Big Build, aimed at expanding and improving healthcare facilities across the state.

See: VOLO Modular