Ballarat Base Hospital Expansion – Ministerial Response
Scroll down for the Minister’s response, or click here to discover more about how we’re working for Wendouree.
Original constituency question from Juliana Addison MP to Parliament –
My constituency question is for the Minister for Health. How will the Allan Labor government’s $655 million investment to expand and redevelop Ballarat Base Hospital benefit constituents living in the electorate of Wendouree?
It was wonderful to welcome the Minister for Health to Ballarat to visit Grampians Health to mark the completion of stage 2 of our $655 million Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment. The central energy plant and support services building house the state-of-the-art pharmacy, pathology services and an educational learning centre for Grampians Health and the Deakin rural clinical school.
It is expected to be in operation in November 2024, and it was terrific to meet staff from pharmacy, environmental services and education, who are looking forward to working in this beautiful world-class building. I was pleased that stage 2 also involved the delivery of 400 new car spaces for our hardworking and valued healthcare workers, patients and visitors.
Response from the Hon. Melissa Horne MP, Minister for Health Infrastructure (10 February 2025) –
I want to thank the Member for her tireless advocacy for the health of her local community. I know the member is keenly interested in making sure that her constituents across the Ballarat region have access to the healthcare they need.
Over 600 people, including more than 120 workers from the broader region, worked close to 400,000 hours to complete stage two of the redevelopment, providing a massive boost to the local economy, with $47.5 million spent in the region during the construction. The redevelopment is now in its third and final stage of construction, with main works already underway to deliver the new multi-level hospital tower and main entrance, an upgraded emergency department and a new rooftop helipad.
Upon completion, the new Ballarat Base Hospital will have the capacity to treat at least 18,000 more emergency patients, an extra 14,500 inpatients per year and 4,000 extra surgeries each year, directly benefiting constituents living in the Wendouree electorate.