New Melton Hospital

The new Melton Hospital will include:

• a 24-hour emergency department
• at least 274 beds
• an intensive care unit
• maternity and neonatal services
• mental health services, radiology services and ambulatory care
• a new education and training hub for doctors and nurses in Melbourne’s west.

The new Melton Hospital aims to achieve the following benefits:

Treating more patients

The hospital will support the growing and diverse communities of Caroline Springs, Rockbank, Melton and Bacchus Marsh. It will ensure the people of Melbourne's west get the care they need, close to home.

With at least 274 beds, the new Melton Hospital will have the capacity to treat 130,000 patients each year and see almost 60,000 patients in the emergency department.

Local jobs

The new Melton Hospital project will create more than 700 direct jobs and 1,700 indirect jobs during construction. It will also generate 2,485 indirect jobs in surrounding health-related services and other businesses.

The hospital will provide a new education and training hub for doctors and nurses in Melbourne’s west. Its operations are expected to generate 3,975 direct jobs on-site in its first full year of operations. This includes medical and nursing staff, allied health professionals, technicians and administrative and facilities management staff.

Reduced wait times

The new hospital will ease the pressure and reduce waiting times at other busy Melbourne hospitals. It will provide an essential link with services at the public hospitals in the western region – including Sunshine Hospital and the $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital.

Supporting the health of the outer west

Melton is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia. As the population grows and ages, demand for healthcare services continues to increase. The new Melton Hospital will help meet the changing and growing health needs of Melbourne’s outer west.

In June 2020, we conducted a community survey. The survey sought to understand which healthcare services the Melton community use, what’s important to them and what they value in the future. We received almost 2,000 responses, which have helped to shape the planning of the new Melton Hospital. You can learn more in the New Melton Hospital: Community Survey Report.

To ensure the voice of the community continues to be part of the planning for the new hospital, in September - October 2022, we sought further insight into what it means to build a hospital for the outer west as well as input into key indoor and outdoor spaces.

Community input will be provided to shortlisted bidders, with the opportunity for it to be reflected in the design and operation of the new hospital. A community consultation report will published in 2023.

We are committed to keeping the local community up-to-date as the New Melton Hospital Project progresses.

A community consultative committee has been established to support the development of the new Melton Hospital.

The committee will provide a forum for members of the local community to participate in the project’s ongoing planning through open dialogue and consultation.

The role and purpose of the community consultative committee is to:

• provide advice on local community health and social needs
• represent the community’s diverse views
• provide advice on emerging issues, opportunities and priorities of the local community.

Chaired by Steve McGhie MP, Member for Melton, committee members have been selected across gender, age, interests and background to ensure a diverse representation. The committee will also include representatives from Western Health, Melton City Council and the Victorian Health Building Authority.

The members of the community consultative committee are:

• Member for Melton, Steve McGhie (Chair)
• Russell Harrison, CEO, Western Health
• Roslyn Wai, CEO, Melton City Council
• Tina Skliros, Director of PPP Projects, VHBA
• Jordan Casey, Manager of Aboriginal Health, Policy & Planning, Western Health
• Alan Perry, community member
• Amit Cheema, community member
• Andrew McDermott, community member
• Brianna Mitchell, community member
• Carmen Martin Issifu, community member
• Daniel D'Souza, community member
• Erwin De Mesa, community member
• Hajar Chlihi, community member
• James Hargreaves, community member
• Jenny Brown, community member
• Kersty Brown, community member
• Marcus Watson, community member
• Vickii Warburton, community member.

Why does Melton need a new hospital?

Melton is one of the fastest growing communities in Australia. The new Melton Hospital is being built to meet the growing demand for health services in Melbourne’s outer west. This demand is being driven by population growth and increasing use of hospital services.

Will the hospital be a public hospital? Who will operate the new hospital?

The new Melton Hospital will be a public hospital. This much-needed project is being delivered in partnership with Western Health, who will operate the hospital.

What will the new hospital deliver?

The new hospital will be Victoria’s first fully electric hospital. It will include:

• a 24-hour emergency department
• at least 274 beds
• an intensive care unit
• maternity and neonatal services
• mental health services
• radiology services
• outpatient care.

Once completed, Melton Hospital will have capacity to treat 130,000 patients each year and see almost 60,000 patients in the emergency department.

Why has this site been selected?

The new hospital will be built at 245-267 Ferris Road, Cobblebank, within the future Cobblebank Metropolitan Activity Centre. Benefits to this site location include:

• close to the Cobblebank train station and Western Freeway
• ease of access to retail, sports and school zones
• opportunity for future expansion and development of the site
• local access to services for the residents of Melton and surrounds.

It will provide an essential link with services at other public hospitals in the western region – including Sunshine Hospital and the new Footscray Hospital.

What input has the community had on the project so far?

We conducted a community survey in June 2020. The survey sought input about the healthcare services the Melton community use, what’s important to them and what they value in the future. We received almost 2,000 responses, which have helped to shape the planning of the new Melton hospital.

You can learn more about this process in the New Melton Hospital: Community Survey Report.

In September - October 2022, we sought further insight into what it means to build a hospital for the outer west as well as input into key indoor and outdoor spaces.

A community consultative committee has been established to support the ongoing planning of the new Melton Hospital. This will provide a forum for members of the local community to participate in the project’s planning through open dialogue and consultation.

How can the community help shape the new Melton Hospital?

We value community input and are committed to keeping the local community up to date as the New Melton Hospital Project progresses. Community feedback will help to shape this significant investment, ensuring the best outcome for Melton and surrounding communities. A community consultative committee has also been appointed to participate in the project’s ongoing planning through open dialogue and consultation.

How will the new Melton Hospital be delivered?

The new Melton Hospital will be delivered as a public private partnership (PPP) under the Partnerships Victoria Framework.

Melton Hospital will be a public hospital, with all clinical health services operated and provided by Western Health.

What is a public private partnership (PPP)?

The PPP model brings together a private consortium to design, construct, finance and maintain the new facility. Western Health will operate the hospital.

Previous hospital PPP projects in Victoria include:

• the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
• the Royal Women’s Hospital
• the Royal Children’s Hospital
• Casey Hospital and
• Bendigo Hospital.

The new Footscray Hospital currently under construction is also being delivered as a PPP.

What are the benefits of a PPP model for the Melton Hospital?

The PPP model is expected to deliver the best possible outcome for Melton and the people of Melbourne’s west. This model allows for innovation, best practice design and long-term asset management. It provides the necessary resources to enable the building of a world-class hospital for the local community that is maintained to very high standards.

How many jobs will the project create?

The New Melton Hospital Project will create more than 700 direct jobs and 1,700 indirect jobs during construction. It will also generate 2,485 indirect jobs in surrounding health-related services and other businesses.

The hospital will provide a new education and training hub for doctors and nurses in Melbourne’s west. Its operations are expected to generate 3,975 direct jobs on-site in its first full year of operations, including medical and nursing staff, allied health professionals, technicians and administrative and facilities management staff.

How can I stay up-to-date with the project?

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When will construction begin?

Construction of the hospital is expected to begin in 2024.

Site preparation works are underway. VHBA is undertaking extensive engagement with Melton City Council and relevant utility authorities to deliver all the necessary power, gas, stormwater drainage and other utility infrastructure (as well as road access including Bridge Road, Coach Street and East Road) to the site in time for the start of construction. Geotechnical, geothermal and site surveys have now been completed, while VHBA has recently submitted its planning permit application to allow for subdivision for the delivery of Coach Street and East Road. Melton City Council will also soon start on the construction of Bridge Road following a competitive tender process later this year.

These connections will not only service the new Melton Hospital site but also the broader precinct. The government intends to financially support the development of precinct infrastructure. Development and approval of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan will occur later this year.

When will the new hospital open?

The hospital is scheduled to open in 2029.

This project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Western Health.

The Victorian Government is working closely with Western Health to ensure the best health outcomes are achieved for the community in Melbourne’s west.

The new hospital is being delivered as a public private partnership (PPP). This involves bringing together a private consortium to design, construct, finance and maintain the new hospital over 25 years.

Following evaluation, shortlisted consortia will be invited to prepare detailed proposals to deliver the new hospital.