Torquay hospital fate unknown, Barwon Health’s new hospital progresses
The block where a community hospital was meant to be built in Torquay remains vacant as the new Women’s and Children’s hospital in Geelong gets underway.
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It remains unclear whether a Torquay hospital that was supposed to open last year will ever eventuate, as the government commences construction of a flagship Geelong facility.
Speaking at Wednesday’s construction launch of Barwon Health’s new Women’s and Children’s wing, Health Infrastructure Minister Melissa Horne said the state government continued to examine the needs of the Geelong region.
“We are working closely with Barwon Health to understand what the service requirement will be,” she said.
“We are moving ahead, but getting that service mapping right is so critical to know what we’re going to build, that’s the process that we’re in at the moment.”
The Torquay hospital was promised by Labor in 2018 and in 2022 South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said acquisition of land on South Beach Rd “delivered on our election commitment to give the southern growth corridor of Geelong and the Surf Coast the everyday health services it needs”.
There has been no progress since and in May last year, then Treasurer Tim Pallas said the commitment was being reviewed.
Where that review is at remains a mystery.
The proposed Torquay hospital formed part of a $675m investment and was touted as a much-needed circuit breaker for major medical centres such as Geelong hospital.
This week, a woman waited 24 hours to be transported from Colac to Geelong hospital and receive emergency surgery.
Ms Horne said it was important to “bear in mind the growth of the region” before any decisions were finalised.
“We’ve just got to take the time to get it right,” she said.
The Women’s and Children’s is the largest health infrastructure project in the region, with the $500m-plus hub now anticipated to finish slightly ahead of its 2029 completion date.
Geelong MP Christine Couzens said access to women’s health, maternity, and pediatric care was a major priority for many locals.
“There are more and more demands on services … the community have made it very clear they’re excited about this opportunity,” she said.
“Not having to take trips to Melbourne will be a huge thing for many families … they can actually stay in Geelong.”
The building will include extra hospital beds, birthing suites, operating theatres, and clinic rooms necessary to deliver essential care.
It will also feature a new neonatal and parental care unit to support newborn babies and their families.
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