The Allan Labor Government is getting on with delivering more world-class care to families in and across Ballarat, with the third and final stage of the $655 million redevelopment at Ballarat Base Hospital now underway.
Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne was today joined by Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, Member for Eureka Michaela Settle and Member for Rippon Martha Haylett today at the site to announce the start of structural works on the new seven-story tower, marking the latest major construction milestone for the project.
Once complete, the new tower will include a new main entrance off Sturt Street, a new emergency department, 100 more inpatient and short stay beds, a new state-of-the-art theatre suite, a new helipad and a new and expanded women and children's hub.
A new critical care floor will transform patient care, helping hardworking surgical staff deliver 4,000 more surgeries every year - bringing together operating theatres, procedure rooms, an expanded intensive care unit, endoscopy suites and consulting rooms all in one place.
Demolition, excavation and foundational works are now complete, paving the way for the first major concrete pours to form the base of the new tower. Close to 32,000 cubic metres of soil, the equivalent of thirteen Olympic swimming pools, has been removed and 95 per cent of materials from the demolished buildings has been recycled.
The redevelopment has already delivered a new Central Energy Plant and Support Services building and an expanded multi-deck carpark with 400 more parking spaces.
The bigger and better Ballarat Base Hospital will have the capacity to treat 18,000 more emergency patients and 14,500 more inpatients per year and is expected to create up to 1,000 more jobs.
The redevelopment is being delivered by the Labor Government and Victorian Health Building Authority, in partnership with Grampians Health and Built, and is on track to be completed in 2027.
As stated by Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne
"The bigger and better Ballarat Base Hospital is progressing at pace - with structural works now underway on the new hospital tower, local families will soon be accessing care here in these new fantastic facilities."
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"The start of structural works on the new hospital tower marks an exciting milestone for the redevelopment - when complete, this massive infrastructure project will mean that even more local families can access world-class care at the hospital."
As stated by Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison
"The redevelopment of the Ballarat Base Hospital will deliver world class healthcare in the heart of our community and provide hundreds of construction jobs during the build. This is a win-win for Ballarat".
As stated by Member for Eureka Michaela Settle
"The third and final stage of construction at the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment is now well underway - it's so exciting to see structural works commencing on the new hospital tower."
As stated by Member for Ripon Martha Haylett
"This massive hospital redevelopment will not only provide patients across our region with better care, but it will also benefit our hard-working healthcare workers who deserve a modern workplace they can be proud of."
