Use offices for a health centre – MP

Erin Pearson
TORQUAY’S shire office should become a health centre after council staff move to a new civic precinct, according to a Liberal MP.
But the shire has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Education Department for Torquay College to eventually expand onto the office site.
Liberal Member for Western Victoria Region David Koch called on council and State Government to turn the offices into a dedicated health service instead of a P-12 school.
Mr Koch said the site could provide a a range of community health services.
But the Brumby Government was “hell bent” on expanding the neighbouring P-9 college onto the shire site to provide full secondary education, he said.
The Liberals alternative of a stand-alone secondary school would leave the offices available for a health centre.
Mr Koch said the health centre would “bridge the gap” between Torquay’s existing clinics and Barwon Health facilities.
South Barwon MP Michael Crutchfield called the health plan “fanciful”.
“Torquay has already got a very good community health facility on the highway that has the ability to expand as required,” he said.
“My (health) focus will be on that facility and the Surf Coast’s first major hospital and Geelong’s second major hospital at Armstrong Creek.”
Concerned Parents About Torquay Surfcoast Schooling (CPATSS) campaigner Glenda Arenson said the memorandum had not dashed the group’s hopes for a stand-alone high school so parents could avoid having to “bus 1000 kids a year into Geelong” under the P-12 plan.
“We hope the powers that be stop to have a serious look and hopefully the memorandum will uncover the problems.”