Site secured: State government takes possession of land for Torquay Community Hospital

THE state Labor Government has locked in the site for the new Torquay Community Hospital, which is expected to open in two years.

A block of land at 110 South Beach Road in Torquay was identified in June 2021 as the preferred location, and Minister for Health Martin Foley and South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman visited the land on Tuesday this week to announce Labor had taken possession of the 2-hectare site for the multi-million-dollar facility.

To be operated by Barwon Health, the Torquay Community Hospital – an election commitment ahead of the 2018 state poll – will be a small public hospital providing a range of integrated community health and specialist services, including urgent care for minor injuries and illnesses, day surgery, paediatric services and mental health services.

The project will take pressure off nearby major hospitals, allowing them to focus on critical care and acute health issues, emergency care and more complex surgeries and procedures.

The new hospital will also reduce the burden on the existing Surfcoast Medical Centre, which was built in the 1970s to service a much smaller population.

Strong links to specialists, community health and social support services will improve follow-up treatment and support for those requiring complex care.

Construction of the hospital is expected to start this year and be complete in 2024.

“This will deliver on our election commitment to give the southern growth corridor of Geelong and the Surf Coast the everyday health services it needs – close to home,” Mr Cheeseman said.

“This will free up people from spending precious time trying to find a car park in and around University Hospital Geelong.”

The Torquay Community Hospital is one of 10 new community hospitals in major growth areas funded as part of a $675 million investment by Labor.

Once complete, the 10 community hospitals will have the capacity to treat at least 114,000 more urgent care patients, 55,000 dialysis treatments and enable more than 100,000 additional allied health sessions each year.

“The Victorian Government is getting on with delivering the largest pipeline of health projects in Victoria’s history including in Torquay, so Victorians can access the care and services they need, no matter where they live,” Mr Foley said.

Member for Western Victoria Andy Meddick, who also visited the site on Tuesday, said the block and its excellent road access was an “absolutely perfect” spot to build a hospital.