NSW Government steps in on cladding remediation at Calvary Mater Newcastle

2 February 2026

newy.com.au – The NSW Government says it has stepped in to start cladding remediation at Calvary Mater Newcastle after months of delays under the site’s facilities management contract.

The state says the external façade cladding is not compliant with current building standards and has also been identified as a contributing factor in some water leaks, with the work framed as necessary to reduce disruption to patient care.

In a statement on Monday 2 February 2026, Ryan Park said “the safety and wellbeing of patients and staff is our highest priority” and acknowledged community frustration about the pace of repairs.

NSW Health said it has a partnership arrangement with Novacare to provide facilities management services, and that multiple breach notices have been issued relating to the required remediation works.

The government said progress had been repeatedly delayed due to ongoing commercial discussions and that an acceptable agreement had not been reached, prompting NSW Health to exercise its contractual rights to have the work undertaken “as soon as practicable and permissible”.

Under the new approach, NSW Health said it is now working directly with a building contractor rather than waiting for Novacare to act.

Scaffolding and hoarding have already been erected at the Platt Street end of the South Block, with remediation works to begin as soon as practicable, the statement said.

Park said “the NSW Government has now intervened directly to ensure non compliant cladding on the hospital’s external façade is replaced without further delay”, adding that Novacare was responsible for maintenance but had been “too slow in planning and progressing the necessary remediation works”.

He said the government was “dealing with a complex contractual arrangement” and would continue examining it to determine “how we can more strongly compel these private operators to meet their obligations”.

Local MP Sonia Hornery said she welcomed the intervention, describing the situation as previously “untenable” and saying, “We cannot tolerate any lack of action in our main oncology hospital for Newcastle and the Hunter.”

The release said pest control issues had been rectified and patients had returned to the affected ward, while improvement works to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system started on Wednesday 14 January 2026, with discussions continuing on additional detail and a long term plan for mould remediation.

NSW Health said it would keep working with Calvary Mater Newcastle to coordinate the commencement of the cladding works, manage risks and minimise disruption until the remediation is completed.