Ferris Road, Cobblebank Announced as Site for Melton Hospital
After decades of campaigning, it’s on the way: Minister for Health Martin Foley MP joined Melton City Council Mayor Cr Kathy Majdlik in Cobblebank on Sunday to announce the site for the new Melton hospital.
Located at 245-267 Ferris Road, the site is located within the future Cobblebank Metropolitan Activity Centre and close to the Cobblebank train station, the new indoor stadium, and the Western Freeway.
Artists rendition of the new Melton hospital
Mr Foley said he expected funding will be set aside in next year’s state budget for construction of the hospital, and hoped to see works commence at the site within the next 12 months.
He said he anticipated the 24/7 public hospital would be fully operational by 2026-27.
The new hospital will boost access to the very best specialists and deliver excellent patient care for locals in the growing and diverse communities of Caroline Springs, Rockbank, Melton Central and Bacchus Marsh.
The cost of delivering a business case, land acquisition and undertaking detailed planning will be $77.5 million.
Planning will include how the new Melton Hospital will link with services at other public hospitals in the western region – including Sunshine Hospital and the $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital.
Mr Foley said the government was “well down the path” of acquiring the land, and the business case was due to be completed by the end of the year.
“There will be an emergency department, and it’s going to be pretty hard in this moving community to not have integrated into this facility maternal and child health support and other arrangements,” Mr Foley said.
“But those specific provisions as to precisely what the model of care will look like will be worked out in consultation with the council, with the local community, with the local civic organisations to make sure that this facility delivers what this community needs.”
Mayor Cr Kathy Majdlik said on behalf of fellow Councillors and residents she was thrilled with the announcement, after considerable advocacy for the project by Council, and thanked the State Government for its commitment.
Melton MP Steve McGhie said it was pleasing that as with huge growth across our region, locals would soon be able to get medical care closer to home.
“I’m very proud to be here, 2½ years after being elected, that now we’re talking about where the Melton hospital is going to grow out of the ground,” he said.