New Melton hospital would be shot in the arm for economy
A new hospital proposed for Melton, in Melbourne’s booming outer west, would create almost 4000 jobs and provide a $300 million-a-year stimulus to the precinct. See what’s in the plans.
Victoria
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A new hospital for Melbourne’s booming outer west would also deliver a shot in the arm to the post-pandemic economy by creating almost 4000 jobs.
An independent analysis for the Melton Hospital plan has found that it would also provide a $300 million-a-year stimulus to the precinct once fully operational.
Former premier Steve Bracks will release the findings on Thursday, calling for the Andrews government to secure land at Cobblebank – which is well connected to rail and freeway networks – in the coming state budget.
This would allow construction of a 250-bed facility to get going in 2022.
“We need projects that are ready to go and that can generate economic growth in the region and create jobs for people hard-hit by the pandemic,” Mr Bracks said.
“It can be built by 2026 if the government reserves the land.”
The analysis by economist Professor Rodney Maddock shows the hospital would secure 375 jobs in construction and would need to double in size within 16 years due to a soaring population.
The number of people calling Melton home is expected to grow from 172,000 to 333,000 in that time.
The new centre would lead to 2250 direct ongoing jobs, while a further 1575 would be created in the vicinity.
Almost 10,000 people in Melton’s council area had registered for JobKeeper by June 24, with young people hardest hit by COVID-19 and the state’s economic slump.
Mr Bracks said the plan would form part of the North West City Deal, a strategic partnership set to be signed between local, state and federal governments that would lock-in major developments for the next two decades.
The Herald Sun previously revealed details of that infrastructure blueprint, which is close to being signed off and includes a new outer metropolitan ring road, another major cross-city rail tunnel, and an airport rail link.
Cobblebank, which is between Rockbank and the suburb of Melton, has been slated as a metropolitan activity centre given its rail and freeway access.
“Positioning the hospital within Melton’s Cobblebank Metropolitan Activity Centre will attract substantial investment in a range of industries and unlock the potential for 22,000 jobs,” Mr Bracks said.
The state government is developing a business case for a new Melton Hospital, but is yet to lock in land or construction timelines.
Melton Mayor Lara Carli said the new centre would “trigger major investment and jobs growth in justice, health, education, retail, recreation, and more”.
“This is critically important in Melton where 80 per cent of our professional workforce leaves the municipality for work,” she said.
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