Murrindindi Shire Council has considered the proposed amalgamation of Alexandra District Health and Eastern Health and has reaffirmed its clear position: any reform must demonstrably improve health outcomes, service access and equity for the Murrindindi community.
Council is not a decision-maker in the proposed amalgamation, which has been referred to the Minister for Health. However, Council has a responsibility to advocate for the health, wellbeing and service access needs of local residents, particularly in a rural and geographically dispersed municipality.
Mayor Cr Damien Gallagher said structural change alone would not address the significant health challenges facing the Shire.
"Murrindindi Shire continues to experience poorer health outcomes than the Victorian average.
For our community, the measure of any reform is simple: will it deliver better, more accessible and locally responsive healthcare?"
Council has made clear that it does not support any change that:
- reduces access to local services
- weakens local accountability or decision‑making
- exacerbates workforce shortages
- or worsens health outcomes for residents
"As this proposal is considered by the Minister for Health, Council expects clear assurances that local services will be protected and strengthened, not diluted," Cr Gallagher said at the Scheduled Meeting of Council on Wednesday 25 February.
Council also emphasised that rural communities require healthcare models designed for rural realities - including distance, workforce constraints, ageing populations and limited transport options - rather than metropolitan approaches applied by default.
Well before the proposed amalgamation was announced, Council had been leading the Victorian Government-funded Murrindindi Health Network Plan project, working with local providers to strengthen workforce capacity, improve service coordination and support preventative, community-based care.
This work reflects Council's long-standing position: locally informed, integrated and preventative care is essential to improving long-term health outcomes in rural communities" Cr Gallagher said.
Council will continue to advocate to the State Government for healthcare arrangements that:
- reflect rural needs
- ·value local voices
- and deliver tangible improvements in community health and wellbeing
Council will provide factual updates to the community as information becomes available and ensure local feedback informs its ongoing advocacy.
