Central residents have one more chance to give feedback on the plans for the new birthing unit at Clyde’s Dunstan Hospital; there is an online meeting this Thursday (August 25). 

Two face to face meetings were held at the Cromwell Presbyterian Church and Alexandra Baptist Church yesterday (Monday August 22).

Representatives from Te Whatu Ora Southern and the architecture firms working on the plans shared the high level artists drawings of the unit, and the floor plan and examples of the finishes (wallpaper, cladding, timber, benchtops etc).

Principal and lead architect for Jasmax Melanie Mason said the vision for the project was to “ensure there are no financial or geographical barriers to Central Otago families accessing quality maternity care.”

Other guiding statements were that the birthing unit needs to be supportive, inviting and safe. 

She said the design look and feel draws upon a locally inspired colour palette connected to the unique Central natural outlook.

“[The unit] has a low roof to nestle into the landscape.

“We are generally trying to reflect natural colours… encompass views to nature, plantings and landscaping outside, also use textural elements as well.”

The plan is to use a local aggregate brick and neutral tones, including an earth colour for the roof and upper cladding and timber to convey warmth.

The main entrance uses natural colours and feels non clinical and welcoming

The 550m2 birthing unit includes two birthing rooms, postnatal stay rooms, a community space, whānau room, consultation rooms, and a secure courtyard with toddler playspace.

Soundproofing has been carefully considered and heating, cooling and lighting will be energy efficient and able to be controlled on an individual basis to meet maternity users needs.

Alexandra’s Charlotte Jean will be replaced by a new unit at Dunstan Hospital. 

WellSouth Health promotion specialist Jo O’Connor was one of around 15 attendees at the Alexandra meeting and said the plans were great as they were “more home-like than institutional”.

She suggested a larger footprint for the community space allowing potentially different usages in the future.

“We have the opportunity [now]... we need to do it well and do it once.”

Other feedback from attendees was around privacy upon arriving to give birth, connection with outside spaces from the rooms, shade for outside areas, security of the courtyard for young children, and the future capacity for the unit to handle growth.

Te Whatu Ora Southern primary maternity acting service manager Hannah Gentile said they were hoping to begin a tender process within the next few months, and that the birthing unit would take about a year or so to build. 

To register for the online session on Thursday August 25 please complete this online form.