Cranes have started coming down at the site of the new Footscray Hospital, which for more than a year, was home to the most cranes in the Southern Hemisphere.
The state government said the site has now reached its maximum height, marking the completion of structural works on the main hospital tower, the final building to be ‘topped out’ in the new health and education precinct.
With the first three buildings in the precinct ‘topped out’ earlier this year, the hospital’s main clinical buildings are the latest to reach the milestone, including the 10-storey inpatient unit (IPU) tower.
The IPU tower along Geelong Road will include the new emergency department, more than 500 beds and feature a garden at the end of each wing where patients can enjoy views across Melbourne.
The sub-acute building on Ballarat Road will include the ambulatory care precinct and clinics like allied health, clinical trials and a wellness hub with a rooftop café.
The new hospital will be home to 50 mental health beds, 16 alcohol and or other drugs (AOD) beds, and a mental health and AOD hub – ensuring people who need urgent care get tailored, specialised and fast-tracked treatment.
Works will now focus on the façade and internal fit-out of the hospital, which is due for completion in 2025.
The government said to date, the project has seen more than 125,000 hours completed by apprentices, trainees or cadets, and more than 245,000 hours have been completed by disadvantaged Victorians.
Once completed the new Footscray Hospital will treat almost 15,000 more patients and allow 20,000 extra people to be seen by the emergency department each year.
Footscray MP Katie Hall said, “The new Footscray Hospital is a huge boost to our local economy, providing jobs and other growth opportunities for the booming west.”
