Major construction of Geelong women’s and children’s hospital to begin in 2025

The size, scale and roll out of the $500m Geelong women’s hospital is coming together but service gaps have emerged. See the detail.

The state government is assessing if it will build the Geelong women’s and children’s hospital to face Bellerine St or Myers St. Picture: Alan Barber

The combined floor space of the multi-level $500m Geelong women’s and children’s hospital will be about 1.5 times the size of the MCG’s playing surface.

The hospital to be built within Barwon Health’s CBD site, will include 23,000 sqm of floor space and 4,000 sqm of refurbishment of existing buildings, state government tender documents reveal.

Three years of major construction is expected from 2025 to build the hospital, which when complete is expected to include multi-day beds, birthing suites, operating theatres, outpatient clinic rooms, a neonatal and parent care unit, and a pharmacy.

A builder for the major project is expected to be appointed by the end of the year after a tender process currently underway is completed.

State government budget papers reveal the hospital is estimated to be completed between October and December 2029, and $24.45m will be allocated to it in 2023-24.

Construction of the hospital that could be about eight levels high is expected to cost about $380m with money also needed for a fit out.

In separate construction now underway, the state government is spending $20m to build a children’s emergency department at Geelong hospital to front Ryrie St.

Expected to be complete in September next year, the project will include 28 treatment spaces, including eight short-stay beds and two beds dedicated to fast tracking care.

A paediatric triage system and waiting area will be established as part of the work.

Artist impression of the children’s emergency department at the University Hospital Geelong, Picture: Supplied

Tender documents for the women’s and children’s hospital state: “Barwon Health does not currently offer a fertility and assisted reproductive service or gynae-oncology service” or “no provision of neonatal intensive care.”

A state government spokesman said it would work with Barwon Health “on further service planning updates as the build progresses.”

“As part of our $70m initiative to make IVF free we’re setting up a satellite service at Barwon Health, making it fairer, easier and more affordable for local women to access a range of fertility services close to home,” the spokesman said.

He said Barwon Health could provide care to very unwell premature babies via non-invasive ventilation.

The Geelong Advertiser understands the state government is assessing whether to build the women’s and children’s hospital to face Bellerine St or Myers St.

Tender documents state significant demolition will likely be needed for the project with two or three buildings, including the Greta Volum surgery building that faces Bellerine St, to be bulldozed.

“Key challenges are anticipated in staging of the works to maintain hospital operations, decommissioning, and diverting services and connecting the new buildings to existing buildings for operational efficiencies,” tender documents read.

The documents also note: “An obligation rests with the (builder), at all times, to work with the stakeholders and project team to achieve the budgeted scope and cost. The total budget cannot be exceeded.”

Concept designs for the hospital are expected to be released next month, and the state government is calling for memebers of the community to join a committee that will help shape the future of the hospital.

A consultant engaged by the state government in 2019, before it committed more than $350m to the project, recommended the hospital be built above the main entrance on Bellerine St.

Originally published as Major construction of Geelong women’s and children’s hospital to begin in 2025