Hospital calls for bi-partisan support

But, Health Minister Jill Hennessy said in Warragul on Friday the government would do the “hard work” to ensure all the costings and planning was done before committing to a new hospital.

In the wake of the Coalition’s announcement it would fund a new hospital on a greenfield site, WGHG chief executive officer Dan Weeks said he hoped there would be bi-partisan support to ensure the project goes ahead.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy has given a commitment that a Coalition government would build a new hospital on a greenfield site at Drouin East.

Mr Guy said he was confident a Coalition government could afford the massive investment, estimated to cost between $280 million and $350 million.

The minister said the government felt “no pressure” to match the commitment.

“I put no trust in any commitment they give. They made a pie in the sky promise that was more to do with a pre-selection stoush.

“We have to do this properly…this is a growing area and West Gippsland Hospital deserves a plan that is properly funded,” Ms Hennessy said.

Mr Weeks said the WGHG hoped it could gain a funding commitment from the Labor government for a new hospital before election time.

“We would love for this not to be a political issue and has bi-partisan support. Locally there has been bi-partisan support from both our local members of parliament.

“It’s about working through the process. At the end of the feasibility study then we hope there will be some sort of commitment.

“Nothing to date has indicated they (the government) aren’t serious about this journey,” Mr Weeks said.

When it was elected, the Andrews government committed to undertaking a health services plan to assess health needs in the West Gippsland region.

Mr Weeks said the study was expected to be completed next month. He said it would give the board and government a picture of what the hospital needs to look like to meet future needs on both the existing site and the greenfield site at Drouin East.

Ms Hennessy confirmed the master planning work would be completed next month and then business case scenarios would be undertaken and completed by the end of the year.

The Committee for Gippsland has been a strong advocate for a new hospital, making it a number one priority for the region and taking the opportunity to lobby whenever it can.

Mr Weeks said treasurer Tim Pallas had indicated to C4G that the government could not commit to a new hospital without the planning but likewise the government wouldn’t do the planning it was not prepared to consider the results.

The board purchased 26 hectares of land at on the north east corner of Lardners Trk and Princes Way in 2007.

WGHG chairman Jane Leslie said masterplan work undertaken by the board demonstrated support for a new hospital on the greenfield site rather than redevelopment of the current Landsborough Rd site.

She said staff were working in onerous conditions in an ageing building and the need for new facilities had never been more critical.

C4G chief executive officer Mary Aldred welcomed the Coalition’s commitment, describing it as a “game changer” for the region.

Ms Aldred said it was pleasing the Opposition had made a commitment to putting the money into this project.

She said the Committee for Gippsland had advocated for the new hospital since its inception in 2011, and a new hospital has been a number one priority in both the first and second of the Committee for Gippsland’s Strategic Plans.

“Community infrastructure is an essential component of investment attraction and economic development in any region. As one of the fastest growing regional municipalities in regional Victoria, the area’s infrastructure is lagging behind and struggling to keep pace with rapid growth.

“Also contending with the closure of Hazelwood power station, the announcement of a new hospital will play a major role in securing jobs, fast-tracking industry diversification and investing in critical infrastructure,” Ms Aldred said.