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Seismic Super Pit won’t stop Kalgoorlie MRI machine commitment, Cook says

Tom ZaunmayrKalgoorlie Miner
A loaded dump truck climbing the Super Pit walls.
Camera IconA loaded dump truck climbing the Super Pit walls. Credit: Tori O'Connor

Kalgoorlie’s long-awaited MRI machine is on track, Health Minister Roger Cook says, despite seismic concerns around the Super Pit.

The State Government in April allocated $6.3 million to build a suite for the MRI at the Kalgoorlie Health Campus to deliver on one of its key election commitments for the Goldfields to bring a machine to the region.

During a public forum in September, Mr Cook revealed seismic activity due to blasting at the Super Pit was hampering efforts to bring the service to Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Speaking in Kalgoorlie-Boulder yesterday, Mr Cook said construction was still due to start next year, with the service likely to be ready for use in 2021.

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Health Minister Roger Cook in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Camera IconHealth Minister Roger Cook in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Credit: Kalgoorlie Miner, Kelsey Reid

“We’re in consultation with the vendors at the moment and working with architects,” he said.

“There’s not a day of the week I don’t talk to our friends at the WA Country Health Service to make sure we have our foot on the pedal.”

Mr Cook said the need for quiet seismic backgrounds for MRI machines made Kalgoorlie-Boulder a particular challenge.

“Developing any sort of acute level health facility utilising instruments like an MRI is always a challenge in a regional setting,” he said.

“That is why we are having to do extra work with the architects and with the manufacturers of the equipment to make sure we get the best possible result for Kalgoorlie.

“The McGowan Government is here to get the MRI and bring it to Kalgoorlie because that is what was promised at the last election.”

Mr Cook said he would welcome financial assistance from the mining industry to solve the problem, however, it was not necessary.

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