The project was originally touted as a model project with all the bells and whistles for a mere $675 million. Instead it has met with deep trouble, with costs estimates ballooning to $870 million and a completion date now delayed until late 2026. The announcement has left many stakeholders questioning the feasibility and transparency of the government’s health initiatives.
The community hospitals that the project originally looked at were located in Torquay, Eltham and Emerald Hill. But according to news reports, those three projects have been removed from that plan. Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier has accused the government of leaving important projects high and dry. This controversial decision has led to widespread calls for accountability, transparency, and even resignation from the administration.
Rising Costs and Delayed Timelines
The government’s 2024/25 budget highlighted a significant shift in the project’s scope, revealing that the estimated costs have ballooned by $200 million. The construction was initially supposed to be done in 2024. The removal deadline was subsequently pushed back to 2026. By November, not a single one of the remaining ten promised hospitals had been finished—only Craigieburn, Cranbourne, and Sunbury. At the same time, four other projects remain in delivery.
Almost a decade later, the land for the proposed Torquay community hospital still lies empty. Today, the government’s website only shows artists’ renderings of the then-intended project. The timeline first shown on the site pointed to a major milestone of “construction begins [site preparation]” in 2024. That milestone is now looking much less likely.
Government’s Response and Future Plans
Last week, a government spokesperson released a statement in response to mounting worries over the project. They set the scene for a serious need to grow our primary care workforce. “With the expansion of our primary care network, including Urgent Care Clinics, and investments to increase capacity at Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the Royal Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospitals and Northern Hospital — we’ve been looking at how we best deliver the remaining community hospital builds,” they stated. The spokesperson further assured that these efforts aim to ensure all Victorians can access everyday health services when they need them.
Crozier was highly critical of the government’s response, demanding that Victorians be given better. She stated, “The Victorian public deserves better than a government that is not up-front and truthful about the plans that they promise, and the plans that they dump.” Her comments are indicative of a mounting sense of exasperation with this issue among constituents who depend upon these critical health care hubs.
Community Impact and Public Concern
Remarkably, these community members are often the most in tune with their healthcare needs. The uncertainty that has come to surround those promised hospitals has ignited their fears. Daniel Andrews, the Premier of Victoria, previously acknowledged the importance of accessible healthcare, emphasizing that “nothing is more important than having the peace of mind that when a loved one gets sick, care is just around the corner.” We know residents would resonate with this caveat. They fear that longer hospital construction timelines could restrict their access to lifesaving, timely medical care.
With no clear path forward as this story keeps changing, stakeholders are wondering how often and how well the federal government will steer through these treacherous waters. Accountability and transparency are watchwords in the public sentiment right now, as they sit and wait to hear more on those community hospital projects.
