New Footscray Hospital

The new Footscray Hospital will provide:

• more than 500 inpatient beds: including same-day, multi-day, critical care, sub-acute, drug and alcohol, and mental health services
• acute facilities: including an emergency department and mental health and alcohol and other drugs hub
• specialist facilities: including cardiovascular/angiographic, operating theatres, procedural and endoscopy spaces and associated recovery spaces
• clinical support spaces: including medical imaging, pharmacy, central sterile services department, outpatients, mortuary and pathology
• car parking: to cater for patients, visitors, staff and other hospital users
• teaching, training and research spaces.

The new Footscray Hospital aims to achieve the following benefits:

More patients treated

• approximately 200 more beds than the existing Footscray Hospital
• approximately 15,000 more patients treated every year
• approximately 20,000 more people seen by the emergency department every year.

Reduced wait times

The project aims to reduce wait times across the emergency department, elective surgery and outpatient clinic services.

Better patient outcomes

The new Footscray Hospital will provide high quality facilities that support and promote Western Health’s innovative practices in improving health outcomes.

With an increase in surgical capacity, the new Footscray Hospital will be Western Health’s main surgical site, providing all surgical sub-specialties.

Central location in the inner west

The new Footscray Hospital’s central location, close to the heart of Footscray and next door to Victoria University’s Footscray Park campus, aims to position the inner west as a leading health, education and research precinct.

Education and training

The new hospital brings to life education and training partnerships between:

• the Victoria Government
• Plenary Health (who run the New Footscray Hospital)
• Victoria University

Victoria University will have dedicated education and research facilities at the hospital. The hospital and university are linked by a footbridge over Ballarat Road. Footscray's new health and education precinct will:

• foster relationships between education and research
• provide opportunities for skills training and apprenticeships
• boost employment pathways for health students.

Local jobs

The project will create an estimated 177 new jobs during construction, including 70 apprenticeships, traineeships and cadetships.

Additionally, the project will employ more than 1,500 people at peak construction. The hospital is being built with more than 90 per cent local content, meaning more materials, services and equipment are being sourced from local businesses.

The new hospital is expected to create over 250 jobs once in operation and attract new investment through ancillary and specialist health services relocating to the area.

The current Footscray Hospital, located at 160 Gordon Street in Footscray, was built in the 1950s. It is a tertiary teaching hospital with 311 inpatient beds.

The hospital is operated by Western Health and provides a range of inpatient and outpatient services, including:

• acute medical and surgical care
• intensive and coronary care
• sub-acute care
• related clinical support services
• mental health services
• drug and alcohol services.

Acute adult and adolescent mental health services are provided on site by Mercy Health and Orygen respectively.

Melbourne’s west is growing, with the population predicted to grow by 60 per cent in the next 20 years. As the population grows and ages, demand for healthcare services continues to increase.

The new Footscray Hospital will help meet the changing and growing health needs of Melbourne’s west.

We value community input and are committed to keeping the local community up to date as the new Footscray Hospital Project progresses.

Issues such as car parking, the need for green and outdoor spaces and public transport access were key priorities identified by the community. They have been carefully considered in the development of this important project.

Learn more in the 'New Footscray Hospital Project Consultation report: the next people’s hospital'.

Subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive the latest news about the project.

Virtual engagement room

The award-winning new Footscray Hospital virtual engagement room was created to give the community the opportunity to learn about the project during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It included a 3D tour of the hospital designs, interviews with the builders and the opportunity to contribute to a time capsule that will be placed on the site of the new Footscray Hospital.

A ‘community corner’ also shone a spotlight on the community that helped shape this once in a generation investment for Melbourne’s west.

An accessible version of the virtual engagement room is available on our website.

A community consultative committee (CCC) was established for the new Footscray Hospital. This provided a forum for members of the local community to participate in the project’s development through open dialogue and consultation.

The CCC included:

• foundation members from key local organisations such as Western Health and Maribyrnong City Council
• thirteen community members.

Chaired by Katie Hall MP, Member for Footscray, committee members were selected across gender, age, interests and background to ensure a diverse representation.

The members of the CCC were:

• Katie Hall, MP for Footscray (Chair)
• Russell Harrison, CEO Western Health
• Tara Frichitthavong, Maribyrnong City Council
• Tanya Druce, Manager, Aboriginal Health at Western Health
• Tina Skliros, Project Director New Footscray Hospital Project, VHBA
• Jo D’Arbry, community member
• Geoff Dunstan, community member
• Siew Lan (Janice) Stielow, community member
• Nick Calafati, community member
• Rachael Ball, community member
• Ken Keogh, community member
• Khang Chiem, community member
• Elwyn Davies, community member
• Sara Coward, community member
• Sarah Roberts, community member
• Craig Rowley, community member
• Melissa Urie, community member
• Edith Pringle, community member.

When designing the hospital, the views and aspirations of the community were considered. This included:

• green spaces
• natural light
• sustainable materials
• good public transport
• a hospital the community is proud of.

The exteriors, green spaces and street entries of the hospital have been designed to create a welcoming and healing atmosphere.

The heart of the hospital is the 'central green space'. Featuring a large green open space with services such as childcare, gym, pharmacy, and cafes.

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

• Western Health
• Plenary Health supported by Orygen and Mercy Health
• Victoria University.

The project will be delivered as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the Partnerships Victoria framework.

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.

In March 2021, following an extensive tender process, the Plenary Health consortium was officially awarded the contract to deliver the new Footscray Hospital.

Plenary Health comprises:

• Plenary Group as sponsor and investor
• Multiplex as builder
• Honeywell and Compass as the facilities and maintenance managers
• Sojitz Corporation as investor.

The design team is led by Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership.

The new Footscray Hospital will continue to be a public hospital. The health service providers will continue to be Western Health, supported by Orygen and Mercy Health which provide mental health services.

Construction started in March 2021 and is on track to be completed in late 2025.

The new Footscray Hospital is a major construction project.

It is expected there will be some temporary impacts that will affect the local community. These include:

• increased vehicle and people movement in the area
• changes to access
• localised noise and vibration
• dust.

These impacts will be regularly monitored and minimised wherever possible.

We are committed to keeping the community informed of project progress. We will notify neighbouring residents and businesses in advance of any major construction activity. We will do this through door knocking (where appropriate) as well as emails, newsletters, construction notifications and public displays within the area.

Geelong and Ballarat Road

To complete works on the main and emergency department entries of the new Footscray Hospital, a sustained period of roadworks is required on Geelong and Ballarat Roads.

Overnight works are required in addition to the day shift, and include realignment of drainage and other service works, as well as removal and replacement of the existing road surface and footpaths.

We understand the impact this may have on residents and the local community and appreciate your patience as we work to complete these essential upgrades as quickly as possible.

Night shifts will be required on Geelong and Ballarat Roads from Monday 28 April to late-June, between 8pm – 5am.

Please note all works are subject to weather conditions, and dates may change accordingly.

Lane closures have been approved by the Department of Transport and Planning, and work hours have been approved by Maribyrnong City Council.

The construction works will emit light and noise from heavy machinery and drilling.

Please be advised that noisy works will be prioritised to the early part of the evening. Where possible, noisier works will be completed during the day shift.

Work hours

Works will take place between the hours of Monday to Friday 7.00am-8.00pm and Saturday 8.00am-6.00pm, consistent with Maribyrnong City Council bylaws.

Wherever possible, noise generating activities will be scheduled during the day to minimise impacts to residents and businesses.

As we complete the testing and commissioning phase for the new hospital, out of hours works will continue within the hospital's buildings over the coming months. While these works are low impact, we are committed to continuing to manage and minimise disruptions wherever possible.

• Between 3.30pm and 11.30pm, Monday to Friday. Noisy works will only occur up to 7.30pm. After this time construction noise will be minimal. 
• Saturday 7.00am - 6.00pm (no noisy works before 8am) 
• Sunday 8.00am – 6.00pm (no noisy works before 7am)

Pedestrian and road changes

To ensure the safety of the community, there will be some changed conditions to pedestrian and traffic movements during construction.

Other temporary road and lane closures will be required at times during construction. When road closures are required, the community will be notified prior to work beginning.

Public transport impacts

To ensure the safety of the community during construction, the Victoria University/Ballarat Road bus stop has been temporarily relocated until construction is completed in 2025. The bus stop is now situated approximately 250m west along Ballarat Road, adjacent to the Footscray Park Bowls Club.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:

The New Footscray Hospital Project team

Victorian Health Building Authority

E: nfhenquiry@health.vic.gov.au P: (03) 9999 1985

There will be no interruption to healthcare services at the current Footscray Hospital during construction.

Footscray Hospital will maintain full operational capacity throughout the redevelopment to ensure the continuity of care for the community.

The government provided funding for works at the existing hospital in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 State Budgets to ensure it can continue to provide safe and high-quality care to patients while we deliver the new hospital.

These works include:

• upgrades of fire, mechanical and ICT services
• maintenance and repairs to the facade of the south and north blocks
• renovations of ward bathrooms
• replacement of the backup power generators.

Following the completion and opening of the new Footscray Hospital, the current Footscray Hospital will be decommissioned.

The new Footscray Hospital Project has been recognised by these awards programs:

• 2023 Australian Design Awards
  Gold: Architecture – Community & Civic
• 2023 Australian Design Awards
  Silver: Digital – Government Services
• National Infrastructure Awards 2022: Infrastructure Partnerships Australia
  Government Partnerships Excellence
• 2022 GOV Design Awards: Driven x Design
  Gold: Architecture – Community & Civic
• 2022 Partnership Awards
  Best Healthcare Project
• 2022 Melbourne Design Awards
  Gold: Digital – Government Services