The construction of about 130 hospital beds at the Mackay Base Hospital has been put on hold with the project doubling in price.

The discovery of asbestos and cultural artefacts on the site, as well as soil conditions, has contributed to the project's price tag more than doubling to $520 million.

Brisbane-based builder BESIX Watpac has so far completed the first stage of the project, originally due to be built and complete next year.

But the Mackay Hospital and Health Service said on its website the contractor would leave the site once that work was complete.

Queensland Health said it was working with the health service on what the second stage of the project would look like in light of the cost blowout.

The department said stage two planning, which included the construction of a chil

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