The Andrews Labor Government is kick-starting work to design and build a new AUD 1.495 billion (USD 1 billion) world-class public hospital in Footscray. Community consultation for the project will get underway, feeding into the tender process which is due to start in mid-2019. The new Footscray Hospital is proposed to be delivered as a Public Private Partnership and expected to open in 2025.

Today’s industry forum is the first major step in securing a partner for the design, construction and maintenance of the new hospital and around 350 experts in major infrastructure learned how they can be part of the project. The new 504-bed Footscray Hospital is proposed to be built next to Victoria University’s Footscray Park campus, on the corner of Geelong and Ballarat Roads. It will replace the ageing Footscray Hospital on Gordon Street, which was built in the 1950s.

The bigger and better Footscray Hospital will meet the increasing demand from Melbourne’s booming western suburbs and ensure families can get the care they need closer to home and create up to 2,000 jobs in the process. With an increase of nearly 200 beds, the hospital will treat almost 15,000 additional patients each year as well as almost 20,000 extra emergency department admissions. There will also be more outpatient, palliative care and mental health services.

In a further boost, up to 17,000 western suburbs residents per year will be able to receive treatment within their local community rather than having to travel to other inner-city hospitals. This will save local residents time and take pressure off other hospitals.