Construction at Ballarat Base Hospital – 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 question is for the Minister for Health Infrastructure and is regarding the Allan Labor government’s $655 million investment to expand and redevelop the Ballarat Base Hospital. It is the biggest investment in Ballarat’s history, and I am so proud that it is for our public hospital.
It is fantastic to see construction works occurring at the Ballarat Base Hospital, knowing that once completed it will include a new emergency department with an integrated mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub; a new helipad; an expanded intensive care unit; endoscopy unit suites and consulting rooms; a new women’s and children’s hub; and an extra 100 inpatient and short-stay beds.
Minister, what are the upcoming construction milestones on the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment?
Our redeveloped hospital will have the capacity to treat more than 18,000 more emergency patients, deliver an extra 14,500 inpatient services and an additional 4000 surgeries per year. I look forward to the minister’s response.
Response from the Hon. Melissa Horne MP, Minister for Health Infrastructure (6 March 2025) –
I thank the member for her advocacy on the health of the Wendouree community and support of this vital hospital upgrade.
I’m pleased to share that construction of the final stage of the redevelopment is progressing well. Since main works got underway in July 2024, up to 390 workers have been employed and on site for the project, and the site is really starting to transform.
Retention piling works, demolition of existing buildings and bulk excavation for the new emergency department and acute tower are all well underway. Both the retention piling and demolition works are approaching halfway.
Importantly, construction on the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment is on track to be completed in late 2027.
As the member has indicated, our $655 million investment to redevelop and expand Ballarat Base Hospital will be transformative. It’ll ensure everyone in Ballarat and surrounding areas has access to world class healthcare for generations to come. I’m looking forward to visiting the site in the near future to celebrate the progress made so far, and joining the Member in celebrating many more milestones as construction of this flagship redevelopment progresses.