Baw Baw Shire Council has welcomed an election promise from the Liberals and Nationals for a $600 million new or upgraded West Gippsland Hospital should they win government.
A 23.6 hectare greenfield site at Lardners Track in Drouin East has already been acquired by West Gippsland Healthcare Group (WGHG) for a future hospital. Its development, however, requires State Government funding to progress.
Speaking today on the proposed site, Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy, not only promised to deliver the new hospital, but that construction would begin in his government's first term should the Coalition be elected.
Long recognised as one of the most pressing concerns for residents, a new or extensively upgraded hospital has been passionately advocated for by the community, West Gippsland Healthcare Group (WGHG) and Baw Baw Shire Council.
Situated on the M1 growth corridor an hour east of Melbourne, Baw Baw Shire is one of fastest growing regions Victoria. The exceptional population growth has put an unsustainable strain on overburdened healthcare services and aging medical infrastructure in the area.
"The current hospital is well beyond it's intended lifespan," said member for Narracan, Gary Blackwood. "[A] new modern facility will deliver not only the services patients expect, but the facilities our healthcare workers deserve."
The preselected Liberal Candidate for Narracan, Wayne Farnham, said a new hospital recognised the needs of the local community.
"A new West Gippsland Hospital has been the number one project consistently raised with me since I was preselected as the Liberal Candidate for Narracan," Mr Farnham said.
"Matthew Guy and the Liberals and Nationals have listened to the community and we will deliver this essential infrastructure for our region."
In November 2021, Baw Baw Shire Council and WGHG signed a Memorandum of Understanding, formalising their commitment to collaboratively advocate for funding for the badly needed expansion of local medical services.
Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Cr Michael Leaney said that Council welcomed the Coalition's election promise, and that Council will continue to advocate alongside WGHG and the Baw Baw's passionate community to secure similar pledges from other parties as the election approaches.
"We welcome today's election promise from the Liberals and Nationals with open arms," said Cr Leaney. "This is possibly the single biggest issue for our community. Today is a big step forward because it puts the issue on the table at the State level and shows our community is really being heard."
"The West Gippsland Healthcare Group has a site ready to go. Council is ready to progress any planning or zoning matters the new hospital requires. What we need is the State Government funding to build it. Today we've heard a promise to do just that. I'm hopeful we'll see other candidates stepping up to match that promise."
Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy, speaks with Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Cr Michael Leaney at the greenfield site at Lardners Track, Drouin East.
