By Molly Magennis
Construction on the biggest health infrastructure project in Victoria’s history is well underway, with the $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital starting to take shape.
Minister for Health Martin Foley and Member for Footscray Katie Hall toured the construction site on February 15 to view how construction was progressing on the massive project.
Construction on the site began in March last year, and since then about 330,000 cubic metres of dirt and rock have been removed from the site as part of work to build the underground car park and ground floor.
Approximately 36,000 tonnes of concrete have been poured on the site, and once complete, around 150,000 tonnes of concrete will have been used, equating to about 25 Olympic swimming pools worth.
The Integrated Practice Unit (IPU) tower is slowly taking shape and will soon be visible to the public from the street.
The project has been a major source of employment, with the workforce on the site expected to reach 500 by the middle of the year.
Operated by Western Health, the new hospital will have more than 500 beds and have the ability to treat almost 15,000 additional patients and allow almost 20,000 extra people to be seen by the emergency department each year.
There will also be more outpatient, mental health, palliative care and surgical services.
Ms Hall said the project was a once-in-a-generation investment for Footscray and Melbourne’s west.
“Our hardworking healthcare workers deserve world-class modern facilities to do what they do best – keep local families healthy and save lives,” she said.
“The progress made on the project since construction got underway last year is phenomenal.”
Mr Foley said: “We’re not wasting a single minute delivering the biggest hospital project in Victoria’s history and creating an additional 2000 jobs when they’re needed most.”
