Hospital works not far away

THE Minister for Health Infrastructure has said she expects work on the public Melton Hospital to begin this year.

Mary-Anne Thomas, also the Member for Macedon, said site utilities for the more-than $900 million Western Health hospital project were being installed at 245A Ferris Road, Cobblebank. The hospital is set to be fully electric and service communities including Bacchus Marsh with a 24-hour emergency department, more than 270 beds, an intensive care unit, and maternity, neonatal, mental health and radiology services.

Exemplar Health will likely lead the development of the hospital as part of a preferred consortium with Capella Capital, Lendlease Infrastructure Investments, Invesis, Lendlease, Honeywell, and Compass Group.

The consortium is expected to manage design, construction, financing and maintainence of the hospital for 25 years, with the Victorian Health Building Authority’s oversight.

“The announcement of a preferred bidder is a significant step forward on our massive Melton Hospital project – it will be a gamechanger for communities across the outer west when it opens in 2029,” Ms Thomas said.

Member for Melton Steve McGhie said the project had reached a major milestone.

“The new hospital will truly transform Melton into a major hub, not just for healthcare but for local jobs, education and training too,” Mr McGhie said.