The newly completed emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub – at The Royal Melbourne Hospital – is one of six new hubs being delivered across the state.
The six hubs are part of the Victorian Government’s $32 million investment to better support Victorians experiencing urgent mental health, alcohol and drug issues.
The Victorian Government values the input of local communities and is committed to providing meaningful opportunities and regular updates so the community can have their say and stay informed as the redevelopment progresses.
The Victorian Government is investing $541.6 million for the redevelopment and expansion of the Ballarat Base Hospital.
The redevelopment will deliver a new central energy plant, a multi-level tower with a new emergency department, a women and children’s hub, state-of-the-art theatre suite and an extra 100 inpatient and short stay beds.
A new and expanded critical care floor will bring together operating theatres, procedure rooms, an expanded intensive care unit, endoscopy suites and consulting rooms – delivering capacity for an additional 4,000 surgeries every year.
Once completed, the upgraded hospital will have the capacity to treat at least 18,000 more emergency patients and an extra 14,500 inpatients per year.
The redevelopment will be completed over multiple stages. Construction of the final stage is expected to be completed in 2027.
The Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA), together with Grampians Health, is committed to providing the local community, including patients, visitors, staff and volunteers at the Ballarat Base Hospital, with meaningful opportunities to provide input into this significant redevelopment.
Since December 2020, the project has sought community feedback – via surveys and workshops – to help inform the design of the redevelopment. The purpose of this report is to:
The community’s ideas, vision and priorities outlined in this report has been provided to the project architect, with the opportunity for these to be reflected in the final design of the hospital. Final designs are expected to be released in 2022.
Through understanding the views and aspirations of the local community, we will build a hospital for Ballarat and the surrounding areas that reflects the community it serves.
The primary objectives for engagement were to:
The consultation process has sought and considered feedback on a range of topics relating to the redevelopment, including the prioritisation of healthcare services, wayfinding and the vision for indoor and outdoor family spaces.
The input captured in this report has been shared with the project architect with the opportunity for feedback to be reflected in the final design of the redevelopment.
A Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment Community Consultative Committee (CCC) was established in March 2021.
The committee was led by former Premier and Ballarat local Steve Bracks, alongside Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle, and met five times
in 2021.
The committee participated in a series of workshops led by the project architects and provided
considered advice on a range of areas and issues including:
In response to COVID-19 restrictions on in-person community information sessions, the VHBA utilised online consultation methods to provide opportunities for members of the wider public to contribute.
This engagement included activity to:
The VHBA, alongside Grampians Health, developed a specialised approach to engagement during COVID-19 restrictions. We engaged closely with the committee through targeted workshops, and utilised social media and online surveys to capture input and ideas from the wider Ballarat community.
More than 1000 pieces of input were generated to help inform early planning of the redevelopment.
Activity included:
Healthcare services and community benefits survey
The VHBA led a community survey on Engage Victoria from 3 December to 23 December 2020, to gain a better understanding of the community’s priorities on healthcare services and additional community benefits at the Ballarat Base Hospital. The community was also asked to share their aspirations for the redevelopment. The VHBA received 285 completed surveys.
Family spaces survey
The VHBA also led a second community survey on Engage Victoria from 27 September to 25 October 2021 to capture ideas and priorities to help shape the key family spaces in the redeveloped hospital - from waiting rooms to gardens. The VHBA received 473 completed surveys.
The community consultative committee met five times in 2021, including two design workshops to generate and prioritise ideas for the project. During these sessions, more than 200 pieces of feedback were gathered to inform the design of the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment.
The first design workshop, led by project architect Lyons, focused on wayfinding and the patient journey through the Ballarat Base Hospital. During this workshop, the committee shared their challenges navigating the current hospital and ideas to improve the patient journey.
The second design workshop, also led by Lyons, generated ideas and priorities to help shape the key indoor and outdoor family spaces in the new redeveloped hospital including gardens, main entry and foyer and waiting rooms.
Vision and aspirations
The redevelopment of the Ballarat Base Hospital will provide the community with world-class healthcare facilities, closer to home. Throughout the consultation process, the local community shared its aspirations and hopes for a new and improved Ballarat Base Hospital that will meet the needs of the community, now and into the future.
The community’s vision
The community survey provided a high-level understanding of the community’s priorities relating to healthcare and additional services. A cross-section of views are set out below.
The following healthcare services were considered
the highest priority:
The following additional community benefits were considered most important:
'This project represents our ongoing commitment to evolve the architecture for patient and staff wellbeing and deliver a hospital that captures the unique elements of Ballarat and the surrounding communities.
To do this, we have adopted a salutogenic design approach to all aspects of the new hospital. The redevelopment will feature calming interiors and connections to the outside, ensuring the building is a welcoming, supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.
We know how important the Ballarat landscape is to the community and we have tailored a design to incorporate these natural elements, drawing on Lake Wendouree and the indigenous flora, fauna and geology for inspiration. From the colour palette, to the materials used, this redevelopment will have a uniquely-Ballarat look and feel.'
Project architect, Lyons
Throughout the consultation process, the VHBA received hundreds of comments and suggestions relating to access, car parking, wayfinding and the patient journey through the Ballarat Base Hospital.
'We heard loud and clear about the current challenges navigating your way in and around the Ballarat Base Hospital and much of our work has focused on addressing this issue. By unlocking the site and improving access and wayfinding, we’re confident the redevelopment will deliver a huge improvement in this area.'
Project architect, Lyons
Some of the features being incorporated into the design of the redevelopment to address
wayfinding and the patient journey are:
Throughout the consultation process, the VHBA received hundreds of comments and suggestions relating to key spaces in the redevelopment.
In addition to general feedback, the community was asked for specific input on:
When asked to consider what features and services you would like to see and have available when arriving at the Ballarat Base Hospital, you said:
When spending time in a waiting area or family lounge, you ranked the following features and services in order of importance:
When asked what features in an outdoor space were most important to you, we heard these responses:
'We understand the importance of these areas to the experience of being in, visiting or working in the Ballarat Base Hospital. It’s important we get these areas right and we’re thankful for the ideas put forward by the community. Your input is helping us shape the final design which will significantly improve how patients, visitors and staff experience the hospital.'
Project architect, Lyons
Some of the features being incorporated into the design of the redevelopment to address indoor and outdoor spaces are:
The project is on track to release the designs of the hospital redevelopment later this year. We are also getting relocation and demolition work underway to prepare for our first major build stage. Construction of the final stage is expected to be completed in 2027.
The Victorian Government is committed to ongoing engagement and we will share with the community further progress on this significant development for Ballarat and the surrounding communities.
The VHBA will work closely with Grampians Health to minimise disruption to neighbouring residents and businesses. Ballarat Base Hospital will continue to operate as normal for the duration of the construction. The project page on the VHBA website and the VHBA social media will continue to be updated regularly as the project progresses. Email newsletter updates will also be distributed to celebrate key milestones.
Conclusion
Supported by targeted social media campaigns and local newspaper advertising, more than 1000 pieces of input have been captured through online consultation and CCC workshops.
Input from the community, stakeholders and the CCC has provided the Victorian Government with:
The community input and feedback received so far has been provided to the project architect, Lyons, with the opportunity to be reflected in the design of the redevelopment.
For more information on the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment, visit the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment project page or contact our project team at bbhrproject@health.vic.gov.au.
To receive updates about the project, sign up to the mailing list.
This year Peter Mac is celebrating 25 years of offering positron emission tomography scans (PET scans). PET scanners are machines that help doctors check for diseases in the body, including cancer. Funding from 2020-21 will replace the current PET scanner at Parkville with upgraded equipment, offering one of the first machines in Australia with a digital detector.
Latest version PET scanners provide more accurate images in less time and with lower doses of radioactive tracers – a win for patients and imaging staff who have an environmental exposure.
Peter Mac Director of Cancer Imaging, Professor Stephen Stuckey says PET scanners play an important role in detection, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cancer, and this technology is advancing rapidly.
Professor Stephen Stuckey, Director of Cancer Imaging, Peter Mac'The accuracy and efficiency gains made possible with these latest machines are not only good for patients, they will help hospitals and imaging centres to keep pace with rising demand for these vitally important scans into the future.'
'A PET scan can show, with pinpoint accuracy, the location of a tumour in tissue or an organ and also indicate if the cancer has spread to other areas,' Prof Stuckey says.
Tumours in the brain, prostate, thyroid, lungs and cervix are commonly found on a PET scan.
'Not only are PET scans used to detect cancers, they help guide treatment decisions, are used to monitor responses to treatment, and to keep watch for cancer recurrence,' Prof Stuckey says.
'New ways to treat cancer – involving radiopharmaceuticals – are also emerging and this is underpinned by ability to perform these scans.'
Peter Mac recently celebrated a significant milestone – its PET service reaching 25 years. When Peter Mac installed its first PET scanner in 1996, it was only the third PET scanner in Australia and one of only a few in the world solely focused on assessment of cancer.
And demand continues to grow with Peter Mac’s imaging team recently performing a record 876 PET scans in one month – that’s an average of 42 PET scans per day. Across the year, Peter Mac performs around 10,000 PET scans.
Professor Stephen Stuckey, Director of Cancer Imaging, Peter Mac'Access to the very latest PET scanners will ensure Peter Mac remains a world-class centre and pioneer of PET-related research and clinical care.'
Health services right across the state have benefited with new equipment from the program. Recent funding has provided state-of-the-art medical imaging equipment that will allow for better diagnosis and people receiving the very best care, closer to home.
Women in north-east Victoria will have greater access to early diagnosis and detection of breast cancer thanks to a new state-of-the-art digital mammography unit.
Funding has provided $300,000 for the device that has the ability to detect 40 per cent more cancers. This is possible by utilising three-dimensional technology combined with contrast enhancement and provides a clearer image for specialists to diagnose.
It is the first mammography unit of its kind available to patients in north-east Victoria, with the health service performing more than 4,000 diagnostic mammograms each year
One of Victoria’s major regional hospitals now has the capacity to increase scanning by 25 per cent with a new computed tomography (CT) machine.
Replacing an older model, Bendigo Health was funded $800,000 for the new technology that will allow more than 10,000 patients to receive scans each year.
The new technology will allow brain scans for stroke victims and heart scans which are even more important with the introduction of a 24/7 heart service at Bendigo Health.
Bendigo Health medical equipment upgrade
Learn more about the Medical Equipment Replacement Program via our dedicated program page.
The Victorian Health Building Authority is responsible for the planning and delivery of the Victorian Government’s multibillion-dollar health infrastructure program.
Explore more stories Behind the build.
Having the latest life-saving medical equipment is vital for health services so they can continue providing world-class healthcare for all Victorians.
Since 2012, the Victorian Government has invested more than $350 million in the Medical Equipment Replacement Program (MERP) – providing public hospitals with important diagnosis tools and medical equipment for care that saves lives.
In 2020-21, the program provided 21 metropolitan and regional health services with cutting-edge equipment ranging from medical imaging machines to operating room microscopes and heart imaging equipment.
The medical equipment supports staff and patients in operating suites, emergency departments, surgical wards, intensive care units, neonatal and maternity services and specialist areas.
In many instances, it also means people who are unwell can be treated where they want to be – closer to home and their loved ones.
In this article we explore some of the recent recipients of Medical Equipment Replacement Program funding and the difference this makes to patients and staff.
Here’s a look at some of the activity taking place on site over the next six months.
Including cores and columns
Plenary Health and Multiplex answer your most frequently asked questions about construction:
Our standard work hours are 7.00 am - 8.00 pm Monday to Friday, and 9.00 am - 6.00 pm on Saturdays.
This is in accordance with Maribyrnong City Council’s General Purpose Local Law 2015.
We will work standard working hours wherever possible, but there will be times when working at night, and on Sundays or public holidays is unavoidable.
This includes work that cannot be practicably and safely completed during normal business hours, such as activities that involve continuous work (e.g. major concrete pours) or work that could cause major disruption to the transport system if done during the day.
If planned Sunday or night works are required, we will notify nearby residents and business owners when this is to occur.
Almost all piling and drilling works are now complete.
We will continue excavation on site until the end of 2021. As areas of the site reach the end of excavation, concrete bases will be poured in preparation to begin formwork.
Five tower cranes have been erected with one more to be installed before the end of the year.
We expect there will be up to 2,000 people working on site at the peak of construction.
We encourage the workforce to use public transport, carpool and use nearby car park facilities wherever possible.
Maribyrnong City Council will be responsible for enforcing Residential Permit Parking Areas and timed street parking spaces areas.
To reduce noise impacts to our community, the following mitigation measures are in place:
24-hour vibration monitors have been installed at Victoria University, Saltwater Child Care Centre and on Federal Street with alarms triggered when vibration levels exceed the limit set by the project.
Where possible, we are facilitating construction during normal working hours and using equipment and construction methods that generate less noise and/or vibration.
We understand that dust from construction activities can impact the local community.
While some level of dust on a project of this scale is unavoidable, we are minimising the dust generated from the site by:
24-hour air quality dust monitors have been placed outside of the site to monitor dust levels. If levels exceed a specified limit of particles in the air, the construction team will investigate the dust levels. If it is identified that dust level limits are being exceeded as a result of construction, a change in work practices is implemented to bring dust levels back within limits.
During the construction period, Ballarat Road and Geelong Road will not be closed during peak hours. However, traffic management will be on hand to control movements of construction vehicles in and out of the site.
We are advising drivers of trucks and large construction vehicles prior to arriving to the site that there is no access via Tiernan Street and Federal Street. In addition, signage has been placed at the intersection of Ballarat Road and Tiernan Street advising that there is no access.
We are working with our contractors and suppliers to encourage vehicles to use Droop Street instead.
A COVIDSafe Plan is in place on the New Footscray Hospital project site and all workers and visitors are required to comply with that plan. The Plan includes ensuring compliance with government directions such as wearing face masks at all times unless there is a lawful reason not to wear one.
The New Footscray Hospital Project obtained the appropriate permits and approvals from both the Department of Transport and Maribyrnong City Council prior to making any changes to the bike path and services lane on Geelong Road. This involved construction of a new temporary path on the verge, which maintains access on Geelong Road.
In the interest of cyclist and pedestrian safety, the cyclist dismount signage was installed due to the shared (cyclists and pedestrians) nature of the temporary path.
We continue to work with the Council to understand the community’s feedback on the changes to the surrounding area (including actively exploring options) and are committed to providing safe alternatives for road and path users for the duration of the project.
Upon completion, the new Footscray Hospital improvements will leverage existing strategic cycling corridors, promote and encourage sustainable transport options, and give hospital staff, visitors and day patients the opportunity to cycle to the hospital rather than use a car.
Improvements include:
We have incorporated the following as part of the design:
We’re happy to receive expressions of interest from people looking for work on the project. You’re welcome to send your CV through to footscray@theconnectivitycentre.com.au and a member of the project team will be in touch if there are any opportunities available.
Absolutely. Plenary Health has been given strict targets to meet in accordance with the Victorian Government’s Local Jobs First policy, which includes targets for minimum local content. The project will be built using more than 90 per cent of materials, services and equipment sourced from local businesses.
We’re happy to receive expressions of interest from companies wanting to become a supplier to the project. You can send a brief email outlining the services you’re interested in providing to NFH.suppliers@multiplex.global. We’d also encourage you to register your company profile with ICN, the Industry Capability Network, at gateway.icn.org.au.
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.
On 10 March 2021, following an extensive tender process, the Plenary Health consortium was officially awarded the contract to deliver the new Footscray Hospital with the parties successfully achieving financial close on 11 March 2021.
The Plenary Health consortium comprises:
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.
This project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with:
In partnership with the Victorian Government and Plenary Health, Victoria University Polytechnic is the project’s lead skills and training partner.
Additionally, a footbridge over Ballarat Road will link Victoria University to the new Footscray Hospital giving direct access to Victoria University’s dedicated education and research space.
Contact the project hotline at (03) 9999 1985 or email nfhenquiry@health.vic.gov.au.
View information in Simplified Chinese (简体中文).
View information in Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt).
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.
On 10 March 2021, following an extensive tender process, the Plenary Health consortium was officially awarded the contract to deliver the new Footscray Hospital with the parties successfully achieving financial close on 11 March 2021.
The Plenary Health consortium comprises:
The design team is led by Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership.
The massive state-of-the-art development was built in two stages. The first stage featured:
inpatient beds
same-day beds
new operating theatres
Bendigo Cancer Centre
maternity unit
mental health unit
childcare centre
The second stage of the hospital redevelopment delivered a multi-deck carpark, helipad and short-stay accommodation units.
Bendigo Health Board Chair, Bob Cameron said the helipad has led to the hospital’s cardiac catheter laboratory expanding to offer a 24/7 service.
‘This means locals can be treated closer to home rather than being transported to Melbourne.’
Bendigo Hospital 5 years on
Text on screen: It’s been five years since the new Bendigo Hospital welcomed patients.
IMAGES: Drone footage of the front of Bendigo Hospital, as well as landscaped areas surrounding the hospital.
Text on screen: The $630 million investment is the biggest in the region’s health care.
IMAGES: Drone footage that pans in to view the front of the Bendigo Hospital.
Text on screen: It stands as a brilliant example of how technology, design and community consultation can create.
IMAGES: An automated guided vehicle glides down a hospital corridor.
Text on screen: a hospital that sets new standards in healthcare design and delivery.
IMAGES: A large imaging machine is shown, demonstrating how it rotates as it scans.
Text on screen: The massive state-of-the-art development is one of the most sustainable and technologically advanced regional hospitals in Australia.
IMAGES: Another drone shot of the hospital from a different angle, showing the scale of the building and the vertical gold glass blades that can pivot at different angles.
Text on screen: Automated guided vehicles deliver food, linen and materials throughout the hospital.
IMAGES: More footage of an automated guided vehicle carrying a large container and gliding into a lift.
Text on screen: Forty-six courtyards and terraces “bring the outside in”.
IMAGES: Footage of tree ferns shown thriving in one of the open-air courtyards.
Text on screen: Sustainability is a key feature, with the roof home to 770 solar panels.
IMAGES: The drone flies over the roof of the hospital which is covered in solar panels laid out in grid patterns.
Text on screen: Future proofing allowed for 45 new hospital beds to be made available to help with COVID-19 demand.
IMAGES: Inside, the camera shows a spacious inpatient bedroom that is bathed in natural light from the window.
Text on screen: The hospital project has won multiple design and landscape awards.
IMAGES: Footage again of the outside of the hospital and the landscaped gardens in front of it, as well as a rooftop courtyard on one edge of the inpatient tower.
IMAGES: Slide with the words ‘In partnership with’ and Bendigo Health logo.
The closing slide is the Victorian Health Building Authority logo, the web address vhba.vic.gov.au and the Victoria State Government logo.
End of transcript.
The Bendigo Hospital is one of the most sustainable and technologically advanced regional hospitals in Australia.
It features:
Eleven ‘robots’ support the back of house services – delivering food, supplies, linen and providing waste management collection between wards.
Guided by GPS with wireless technology, they work around the clock to support staff.
Bob Cameron, Bendigo Health Board Chair‘Having AGVs allows us to transport food, linen and rubbish around the building with minimal risk of manual handling issues.
’They use dedicated lifts and during COVID-19 have helped to keep the environment safe by reducing the number of people moving around the building between different zones.'
When the hospital was opened to patients five years ago, Bendigo Hospital was one of the most digital smart hospitals built in regional Australia.
The telehealth activity allowed a specialist in Bendigo to provide advice to someone in a remote, rural hospital setting. Given Bendigo Health’s area of service is just over one quarter of the land size of Victoria, this was a smart way to help people across the Loddon Mallee region.
It also meant the hospital was equipped to deal with the pandemic and move much of its consulting, where appropriate, to telehealth.
'Our treatment rooms were already technology enabled which meant they could be used for telehealth by our clinicians which allowed continuity of care for patients without requiring them to come into the hospital setting,’ Mr Cameron said.
'The majority of outpatient appointments were converted to telehealth during peaks in infections and periods of very minimal foot traffic to the building.'
The Bendigo Hospital has received world-wide acclaim for its design and landscape.
Just some of the awards it has won include:
The new Bendigo Hospital has 46 courtyards and terraces. The design brings the outside in, with a focus on patient areas being bathed in natural light.
The courtyards are designed specific for a number of areas:
And it’s not only the patients that enjoy the large range of benefits from having so many outdoor spaces, Mr Cameron said.
‘The surrounding gardens within the precinct provided well ventilated areas for staff to enjoy their breaks during the pandemic and to enjoy some time out in nature.'
As part of the future proofing of the hospital, 45 new hospital beds were made available to help with COVID-19 demand. Built-in capacity for 20 intensive care beds meant additional beds were available if, and when, required.
‘The future growth spaces allowed us to expand our ICU and open additional ward capacity for a dedicated respiratory ward to care for COVID-19 positive patients,’ Mr Cameron said.
‘The flexible floor plan allowed the clinical teams to move services within the building to provide a safe pathway from the emergency department to theatres, maternity, ICU and the COVID-19 ward which reduced the risk of infection occurring within the hospital setting.
‘Bendigo Health was very fortunate that the new hospital had modern ventilation with single pressure rooms throughout the building and an entire clinical area which could be converted into a single pressure ward.’
Spanning across 13 hectares, Bendigo Hospital creates a large footprint. The many sustainability features lessen the environmental impact of the building.
And while this is good for the environment, these features also provide a healthier physical environment for patients, staff and the community.
The hospital’s roof is home to a 770 solar panel array, generating clean energy which is fed into the hospital’s main power boards. In addition, the hospital’s 1000sqm green roof is a habitat for local plant species and has other benefits such as reducing glare and improving building acoustics and thermal performance.
Bendigo Hospital was the first energy efficient, sustainable and future-ready facility in Victoria with uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and a tri-generation plant which provides instantaneous electricity, cooling and heating.
Looking back on five years in the new hospital, Mr Cameron said the building has assisted Bendigo Health in driving improvements in patient care and recruiting highly skilled and experienced staff. It also offers training to the next generation of health professionals in partnership with local university campuses including the Monash Rural Medical School and La Trobe Rural Health School.
’Bendigo Hospital remains one of the most digitally enabled hospitals in Australia which has helped us to use technology in innovative ways to provide health care,’ he said.
‘It is a local landmark and the gardens are flourishing, providing a calm retreat for patients and staff away from the hospital building.’
The new hospital was delivered through a public-private partnership between the Victorian Government, Bendigo Health and the Exemplar Health consortium. The Exemplar Health consortium included:
Learn more about the Bendigo Hospital via our dedicated project page.
The Victorian Health Building Authority is responsible for the planning and delivery of the Victorian Government’s multibillion-dollar health infrastructure program.
Explore more stories Behind the build.
Construction of the $630 million Bendigo Hospital was completed in June 2018, and it has forever changed the skyline of the city of Bendigo.
The hospital was the largest regional infrastructure development in Victoria’s history, and biggest ever investment in the region’s health care. It stands as a brilliant example of how technology, design and community consultation can together create a hospital ready for growth – now, and into the future.
Bendigo Hospital is widely recognised for its role in setting new standards in healthcare design and delivery.
In this issue you can see our latest project milestones and find out how we are:
Melbourne Design Week runs 17-27 March 2022 and explores how design can be used as a force for 'civic good' and 'making good'.
To celebrate, we’re exploring how the Victorian Health Building Authority aligns with these pillars in designing health facilities to meet the needs of Victorians.
Learn how we're designing for good:
The Commission set out to redesign Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system to benefit the whole Victorian community. Learn how we're delivering a number of dedicated infrastructure projects in response to the key recommendations.
It’s essential to cement the role of women in modern construction. Find out why Katie O’Brien, our Deputy Project Director on the $1.5 billion New Footscray Hospital Project, is excited about the opportunities for women to thrive and grow in the industry.
Stay-up-to date on our announcements and health, mental heath and ageing projects by signing up to our online newsletters.
