Premier’s visit invaluable
Ararat district has the green light for a multi million-dollar upgrade of community health services after a financial commitment from the State Government.
The government will provide $4.12-million for East Grampians Health Service to redevelop a community health centre.
The move also involves integrating Ararat Rural City Council’s maternal and child health and home and community care services onto one site.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Jill Hennessy made the announcement during a visit to Ararat and other regional centres.
The government commitment will cover the total cost of the project, which involves refurbishment of the Girdlestone Street Community Health Centre and extension of the front of the building to accommodate consulting rooms, Ararat Rural City maternal and child health and activity-education-meeting rooms.
A physiotherapy-rehabilitation area and dental clinic will remain as is but the northern end of the building will undergo minor refurbishments.
The project is designed to provide people with greater accessibility at the front of the centre, a larger waiting area and updated reception and public toilet areas.
An outreach building, which houses the health group’s community nursing service, will be refurbished to accommodate the Ararat Rural City Home and Community Care program. It will also include a new external play space for an Ark Toy and Activity Centre.
Services in the community health centre and outreach building include dental, women’s health, physiotherapyphysiology, health promotion, diabetes care, podiatry, occupational therapy, community nursing, social work and speech pathology. The centre is also home to visiting medical and health professionals, dietetics, continence nursing and provides services to prisoners at Ararat regional prisons.
East Grampians Health Service board president Matt Wood said the funding announcement was exciting news.
“This project will enhance the delivery of the health service’s primary care services and foster a stronger partnership with Ararat Rural City Council’s primary care services,” he said.
The money is part of the first round of the State Government’s $200-million Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.
Face-to-face
Northern Grampians Shire Mayor Tony Driscoll has described the Premier’s snap visit to Stawell as invaluable.
Cr Driscoll, who with chief executive Michael Bailey spent about an hour discussing shire issues and investment opportunities with the Premier, said having a face-to-face meeting was important to the shire council and community.
“In terms of opportunities in the shire we’re on the cusp of many, and it’s just a matter of getting them to crystalise,” he said.
“Having the ear of the Premier certainly helps and I have no doubt he was genuinely interested in what was happening and ways of trying to progress projects. He is certainly well aware of our issues.”
Cr Driscoll said the council was grateful the Premier had taken time to visit Stawell to discuss the many social and economic challenges facing the town and broader region.
“It’s important Mr Andrews gets first-hand insight into the issues our town is facing, particularly since underground mining at Stawell Gold Mine ceased in December,” he said.
“Our region has many strengths and opportunities and during the Premier’s visit we were able to highlight a number of potential industry development projects and initiatives.
“As a council, we are committed to engaging with government to encourage investment in the region and will continue to champion our region on behalf of our community.”
Cr Driscoll said the discussion covered a broad range of issues from Stawell Gold Mine’s closure, increased community involvement into the future of open-cut mining at Big Hill and progress of an underground physics lab at the mine, to the first stage of Nectar Farms hydroponic project and the survival of rural councils based on a sustainable future.
Member for Ripon Louise Staley, meanwhile, said Mr Andrews failed to provide any new answers to ‘fix the growing jobs crisis’, during what she described as ‘talkfests’ in Ararat and Stawell.
Ms Staley said figures showed jobs in north-west Victoria, which includes Ararat, Stawell and St Arnaud, were in decline.
She said it was clear Mr Andrews ‘did not have any answers for the growing jobs problem in Ararat and Stawell’.
“Jobs are flying out the door fast under Daniel Andrews’ watch; our communities are suffering while he fails to take any action,” she said.
“Daniel Andrews lacked the conviction to make a tough decision on the future of Big Hill. When his government procrastinated on the issue 150 local workers ended up losing their jobs.
“The Andrews Labor government always puts Melbourne first and regional communities like Stawell and Ararat second.” SCHUBERTS PEST SERVICES Ph: 5382 7484