WA Country Health Service (WACHS) - Mullewa Hospital - Clerk of Works Role

⁠⁠⁠WA Country Health Service (WACHS) - Mullewa Hospital - Clerk of Works Role.

PROJECT BRIEF 

Mullewa Hospital a small hospital located within the inland Midwest Region of Western Australia, approximately 500km north of Perth and 100km east of Geraldton. The hospital currently provides a nurse-led 24/7 emergency model with medical support provided through Visiting Medical Practitioners (via GPs) and Emergency Telehealth Service (ETS). Primary health, palliative care and emergency stabilisation are delivered from the site, with acute patients transferred to Geraldton Health Campus, where required.

Redeveloping the site and establishing a new community hospital will allow WACHS to meet the intentions of the WACHS Strategic Asset Plan and a number of State Government service reform policies and strategies, including primary health care reform and care close to home.

The Project will deliver a new facility on the current site including full demolition of the existing facility. This redevelopment will address the existing facility issues and constraints that hinder service provision.

The construction contract was awarded on 5 June 2025 to Merym Pty Ltd T/A EMCO Building and the construction contract is based on AS2124 General Conditions of Contract. The contract itself is separated into three Separable Portions:

Separable Potion 1 : Construction of Health Facility and partial Civil Works

Separable Potion 2a : Completion of Civil Works (Visitor Carpark)

Separable Potion 2b : Demolition of Existing Hospital and civil stormwater works

The engagement of the Clerk of Works is an outcome of the Tender Evaluation Process recommendation to mitigate the risk of building a hospital in a remote region. IPH Architecture is appointed to be the Superintendent Representative and they are currently scheduled to visit the site once a month. The role of the Clerk of Works is expected to fill the gaps between the Superintendent Representative site visit and the contractor progress onsite during the delivery of Separable Portion 1. 

SCOPE OF SERVICE

The Clerk of Works’s main responsibilities are to verify that:

• work is carried out to agreed or contracted standards, specification and schedule;
• the correct materials and workmanship are used and that the Principal client is given quality work and value for money; and
• the contractor is progressing the construction of the works in accordance with the approved programme.

The Clerks of Works is required to be onsite for up to three days per week for the duration of Separable Portion 1. The Clerk of Works needs to be vigilant in their inspections of a large range of technical aspects of the work. This involves but not limited to:

• Becoming familiar with all the relevant drawings and written instructions, checking them, and using them as a reference when inspecting the work;
• Making visual inspections and providing photographic records;
• Taking measurements and samples on site to make sure that the work and the materials meet the specifications and quality standards and guidelines;
• Being familiar with legal requirements and checking that the work complies with them; and
• Having a working knowledge of health and safety legislation and bring any shortfalls observed to the attention of the SR and the Principal.

The Clerk of works is also required to:

• Liaise with and advise the SR and the Project Manager about the work, particularly if something has gone wrong and agree to minor changes within the parameters set by the SR;
• Keep detailed records of various aspects of the work (including dated and referenced photographic records);
• Provide regular reports for the SR. Records should include as a minimum details of:
• progress and any delays;
• the number and type of workers employed;
• weather conditions;
• visitors to the site;
• drawings received;
• deliveries;
• instructions issued;
• Reviews of ITP; and
• any significant events including any serious deficiencies in health or safety performance observed while on site.
• Liaise closely with the contractor’s staff to ensure that the works proceeds in accordance with the contract requirements;
• Develop and obtain the SR’s approval of the Principal’s inspection and witnessing plan (ITP) for the construction works;
• Undertake inspections in accordance with the approved ITP and construction program to ensure construction is progressing to schedule (time) and works are to an acceptable standard (quality);
• Review contractor’s site diary, record level of activity and resources on site in writing and by photographic images, review progress against contractor’s program at task level and record task level activities occurring;
• Provide expert advice to the project team in relation to quality and progress;
• Provide advice in respect of contractor’s resourcing and other matters that may affect timely delivery of the project;
• Assist the SR and cost manager to undertake their roles through regular site surveillance and reporting (including photographic records);
• Ensure specialist sub-consultants carry out quality control in accordance with the approved ITPs;
• Attend fortnightly site meetings and intermediate site meetings as necessary in person;
• Liaise with WACHS and hospital representatives in relation to interface activities;
• Liaise with the Principal’s OSH adviser consultants as required; and
• Prepare agendas, minutes and issue as appropriate for any necessary meetings between parties to discuss specific issues.

Only Architectural IFC Drawings are included in this tender package to show the scale of the construction work. A full IFC Documents from all consultants will be issued to successful consultant. Together with the Superintendent and the Superintendent Representative, the successful consultant will refer to the remaining IFC Documents to carry out the task and duty of a Clerk of Works.