The Allan Labor Government is getting on with delivering world-class healthcare for families in Melbourne's north-east, with work to upgrade the emergency department at the Austin Hospital now underway.
Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas today announced Built has been appointed to deliver early works, paving the way for main construction to start in 2025.
Made possible via $275 million Labor Government investment, the project will deliver up to 29 additional emergency treatment spaces which will enable the hospital to support approximately 30,000 more emergency patients each year.
Early works involve upgrading engineering infrastructure to support the Austin Hospital and Mercy Hospital towers, including a new 13,000kg air-cooled chiller which will be hoisted above the Lance Townsend Building.
This new mechanical chiller will allow the transfer of chilled water throughout the hospital site to mechanical equipment such as air handling units, ensuring that the environment is safe and comfortable for staff and patients.
The early works also involve constructing a new plant deck to support the new air-cooled chiller and other infrastructure works including upgrading the existing medical gas systems. These system upgrades will support increased capacity of lifesaving medical gases, such as oxygen, to be delivered to patients when they need it.
The project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) in partnership with Austin Health.
As stated by Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas
"We're getting on with delivering this much-needed upgrade to the Austin Hospital's Emergency Department - ensuring local families can access world class healthcare closer to home, when they need it."
"This is a critical project that will support an extra 30,000 emergency patients each year in Melbourne's east."
As stated by Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines
"With record demand in the Austin's busy ED, this is an important project that will ensure we can meet the increasing health service needs of the community in Heidelberg and surrounding suburbs, now and into the future."
"This significant investment means when an emergency strikes, locals can be assured they have a world-class, modern emergency department closer to home."
