For Hunter residents who can't wait to see their new hospital up and running, it has been a long time coming - but we're now getting our first glimpses of the building's facade.
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This week the scaffolding started to come off on the ground floor and level one, revealing the brickwork and external elements for the first time.
It comes as Health Infrastructure has released its October monthly video of how construction is progressing - it can can be viewed on the Mercury's website.
While work continues internally, construction will start shortly on the next significant external feature. This will be the arbour - the covered walkway - at the front entrance. It will link the patient drop off and pick up areas to the main entrance.
In August another significant construction milestone was achieved when the last concrete was poured on another key external feature - the rooftop helipad.
In their October progress update, Gavin Thompson, Senior project Director, said they were continuing to make "fantastic progress" and referred to the last concrete pour.
"The fit-out internally is also making great progress," he said. "A big thank you to the highly dedicated clinicians, staff and stakeholders who are working diligently."
Peter Troke, Back of House Change Manager, was quick to talk up how the lower ground work was coming along.
The lower ground floor will have an access road away from the front entrance to service the central loading docks. The floor also include the kitchen and linen services, waste and recycling services, biomedical services, facility maintenance, staff offices and a number of clinical services including pharmacy are located.
Another feature that has come to light is that there will be a separate lift to cater for all back of house needs - kitchen deliveries, bedding, linen and so on - leaving the main lifts for the use of doctors, nurses, patients and visitors.
"This is a big benefit ... it will allow a huge increase in efficiency in terms of how we do our back of house services," Mr Troke said.
The $470 million project will provide emergency care, chemotherapy chairs, surgical and medical services, critical care, maternity services, paediatric care, inpatient beds, mental health, palliative care, outpatient clinics and dental, as well as car parking.
A journo all my working life and never wanted to change, also a self confessed sports tragic.
A journo all my working life and never wanted to change, also a self confessed sports tragic.
