By Eric Powers – Special to the Sydenham Current
The Chatham Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) Wallaceburg location has begun operations from their new replacement power plant.
This marks the completion of an approximately $8.1-million project for the Wallaceburg site.
Hospital officials said the new plant is equipped with two generators, a new boiler system, a new breaker system, along with several other mechanical upgrades.
This will help to increase energy efficiency while lowering the cost of operations, hospital officials added.
The triage area has been expanded as well.
Currently, the hospital is in ‘phase two’ of their planning process.
A phase two application will be submitted to the Ministry of Health closer to the end of the year.
“This signifies that the government will support the next phases,” said Aaron Ryan, CKHA’s vice president of performance and chief financial advisor, during a media event held at the hospital earlier this month.
“It’s important for the future of the building.”
Ryan added: “As far as capabilities, the biggest benefit currently is having a second system. It’s expanded our capacity, so as we add on the new phases of the hospital it gives us enough power to enable that growth.”
Ryan said future plans include the addition of a new 24/7 emergency department, diagnostic imaging, five medical beds and a laboratory. Further details and designs for these additions will be mapped out as a part of the phase two process.
There are five phases in total, hospital officials added.
Phase three, preliminary design development, will involve creating schematic designs, sketch plans, a timeline and estimating cost.
During phase four, working drawings will be prepared while contract documents will be made and posted.
Finally, phase five will involve the contracts being awarded and the beginning of construction.
For more information and future updates, visit the Wallaceburg Redevelopment website here: https://www.askckha.com/wallaceburg-redevelopment/
Here are some photos from the tour of the new power plant:
