New hospital guaranteed
Opposition’s first budget promise
A new West Gippsland Hospital on a greenfield site is on the horizon, but only if a Liberal National coalition wins government in November.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy re-confirmed the party’s commitment to a new hospital on Friday but took it one step further saying if they win government, more than $300 million would be allocated in their first budget.
Mr Guy’s announcement was welcome news to the Where’s The Funding community lobby group, who are now hopeful a new hospital may become a reality within 12 months.
“In our first budget we will allocate the funds and then begin the planning and development. We are sick of waiting too,” Mr Guy said.
If elected, Mr Guy promised the funds would be allocated and the project delivered within their first four-year term of government.
Mr Guy said the current hospital had been a great facility, but it was out-dated and it was time to build a new hospital.
“We are absolutely committed to building the new hospital in our first budget.
“It is a priority, it is the right thing to do and we are going to put it on this site,” Mr Guy said at the Drouin East site on Friday.
The Andrews state government has undertaken a feasibility study assessing the options of a new hospital on land owned by the West Gippsland Healthcare Group at Drouin East compared to redevelopment of the hospital and Cooinda aged care facility on the Landsborough Rd site.
Neither the government, health minister Jill Hennessy or Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing have released publicly the outcome of the feasibility study and preferred option.
Mr Guy accused the government of using the feasibility study as a delay tactic in committing to the hospital project.
He said the opposition did not need a feasibility study to say where the new hospital should go. “The board says this is the right site, the structure plan for Warragul and Drouin endorsed by council says it’s the right site and the community want it here.”
“The only piece of that jigsaw missing is a commitment from the Andrews government,” he said.
Mr Guy said Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood had requested several times in parliament for the feasibility study findings to be released “but we get no response.”
Mr Guy said an elected Liberal National government would commit more than $300 million to the new project and seek additional financial support from the federal government for aged care facilities on the site.
“It makes no sense the Andrews government keeps ignoring the needs of West Gippsland. This is the perfect location for a new hospital. It is the most sensible and realistic place to put a new hospital,” he said.
Mr Blackwood said he was “very disappointed” when this month’s state budget included no funding for a new hospital.
He said three generations of the Blackwood family had been born at the hospital and he was “incredibly passionate” about the project.
“Our community is justifiably proud of the West Gippsland Hospital and this has been demonstrated time and time again through bequests and donations, in particular the contribution of the Drouin Auxilliary that raises around $100,000 each year.
“It is very pleasing that after almost 10 years of lobbying and advocacy a new hospital will now be built on the greenfield site and congratulations must go to the board of management for their foresight by purchasing land in a perfect location between Warragul and Drouin,” Mr Blackwood said.
Baw Baw Shire mayor Joe Gauci said council had been advocating for a new hospital with “every breath we can get.”
“This is the community that has come out and advocated for this. We really admire the work they have done.
“Why this isn’t a bi-partisan announcement I’m not sure,” he said.