The government is yet to finalise key details of its Canberra Hospital expansion project, SPIRE, and is still considering "alternative approaches" to the project.
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The $500 million project was a key election promise from the Barr government before the 2016 election. Construction has already been pushed back and won't begin until 2021. The project is not expected to be completed until 2024.
Emails obtained through freedom of information show Canberra Health Services and Major Projects Canberra were still investigating three different site footprints for the project in November.
Details of the options, and the preferred site, were redacted.
The documents said the government was investigating "alternative approaches to the positioning of SPIRE".
The small group of people who were sent the email were urged to keep the details between them.
"Be careful about who (if anyone) this is shared with," it read.
The documents included discussions about where to put the main entrance to the hospital, with Yamba Drive preferred.
They also said SPIRE would be linked to the existing buildings through a new structure, but this was yet to be costed.
Hospital Road may be closed to traffic depending on the option chosen, which would mean discussing bus and fire brigade access arrangements.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said she had been clear the detailed project design had a long way to go.
"This includes the exact footprint of the building, its connections with other buildings on the Canberra Hospital campus, and traffic and pedestrian routes," she said.
"The email released under FOI relate to alternative options for traffic and pedestrian movement to both the main hospital entrance and the SPIRE building.
There is deep seated uncertainty about the future of SPIRE
- Opposition Health spokeswoman Vicki Dunne
"As noted in the documents, these options will have costs associated with them, and they have not yet been considered by cabinet. As soon as we are in a position to share further information with the community, we will do so."
She said the site for the SPIRE project was settled and the government had no intention of reconsidering this question.
"I have also recognised that there were pros and cons with each site option and that these have been considered over many years of due diligence on this project. On balance, the chosen site is the best option and planning to deliver the SPIRE project on this site is well progressed," she said.
Opposition health Spokeswoman Vicki Dunne said it showed the government still didn't know "where to put the front door".
"There is deep seated uncertainty about the future of SPIRE," she said.
"While Health Minster Rachel Stephen-Smith is telling the community one thing, it's a completely different story behind closed doors.
"After years of the same old tired-thinking government, Canberrans have been left with the worst performing hospital in the country."