Ash Bolt
The state government has secured a site for the Torquay Community Hospital, progressing a 2018 election commitment to build a new public hospital for the Surf Coast.
Health Minister Martin Foley and South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman announced on Tuesday the state government had secured a parcel of land at 110 South Beach Road, Torquay for the multi-million dollar facility.
The site was identified as the hospital’s preferred location in June last year due to the surrounding community services including council offices, schools, and childcare facilities.
The Torquay Community Hospital is one of 10 new community hospitals in major growth areas funded as part of a $675 million investment by the state government.
The hospital will be run by Barwon Health and provide integrated community health and specialist services including urgent care for minor injuries and illnesses, day surgery, paediatric services and mental health services.
Mr Cheeseman said the project would take pressure off nearby major hospitals and allowing them to focus on critical care and acute health issues, emergency care and more complex surgeries and procedures.
“This will deliver on our election commitment to give the southern growth corridor of Geelong and the Surf Coast the everyday health services it needs close to home,” he said.
“This will free up people from spending precious time trying to find a car park in and around Geelong hospital.”
The state government allocated $555.5 million in last year’s state budget to its Community Hospital Program, which aimed to build 10 new facilities.
“The Labor Government is getting on with delivering the largest pipeline of health projects in Victoria’s history including in Torquay, so Victorians can access the care and services they need, no matter where they live,” Mr Foley said.
Mr Foley said once complete, the ten community hospitals would have the capacity to treat at least 114,000 more urgent care patients, 55,000 dialysis treatments and enable more than 100,000 additional allied health sessions each year.
He said the Community Hospital Program would create an estimated 1900 jobs during planning and construction and deliver over 1000 healthcare jobs once completed.
The final designs for the Torquay Community Hospital are expected to be released in late 2022, with construction due for completion in 2024.
