At its Council meeting on Tuesday 15 June, the City of Casey approved a land sale in Cranbourne East to the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) for construction of a new community hospital.
The VHBA approached Council in early 2019 to identify a potential location for a new Community Hospital, as part of the Victorian Government’s $675 million program to build ten new community hospitals to boost health services in major growth areas.
The new hospital, to be located at 65 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, will provide significant benefits, such as access to medical resources including, imaging, an inpatient day clinic, specialist care, chronic disease care, and family and children’s services.
City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff PSM said that the development of this hospital within the Casey Complex would be a great asset for the Cranbourne area and surrounds.
“The Cranbourne Community Hospital will support the community by improving access to a range of health services closer to home, in a modern, well-equipped health centre,” Ms Duff said.
“Additionally, it will allow Council to invest the proceeds of the sale back into community infrastructure in Cranbourne, and bring forward the implementation of the Casey Complex Urban Design Framework (UDF), further reinstating the benefits of selecting this location.”
The UDF outlines Council’s 20-year vision and direction for the Casey Complex as a leisure and recreation precinct that supports the provision of community facilities and services in Cranbourne.
Ms Duff said that Council is aware of some residents’ concerns regarding the land sale, primarily related to parking, site selection and traffic.
“Officers have had detailed discussions with the VHBA to address these concerns as part of the sale with the VHBA,” Ms Duff said.
“Council officers have been working closely with the VHBA to develop their car parking solution that will address the demand generated by the Hospital now and in the future. The VHBA are also working with Department of Transport and Major Road Projects Victoria to ensure appropriate access to the hospital and to minimise impact on the surrounding road network.
Ms Duff added that Council carefully considered the feedback provided by key stakeholders and will continue to represent and advocate on behalf of our community throughout this process.
“We are committed to representing our community to ensure that the development of the hospital provides a range of benefits to the surrounding area,” Ms Duff said.
“We have previously undertaken community engagement with those who are directly impacted by the land sale, and the VHBA has also developed a dedicated Community Consultative Committee with a cross section of community members, to provide a forum for participation in the Hospital’s planning and development.”
Ms Duff added that a number of measures will be undertaken by the VHBA to manage traffic and parking in the surrounding area, and Council will be a partner in this process.
“In conjunction with building the new hospital, the VHBA has also committed to deliver two key roads in the Casey Complex,” Ms Duff said.
“These roads form part of the future transport network and will provide access to the Hospital once operational and connect the rest of the Casey Complex in the future.”
Additionally, the hospital development will see the provision of more than 300 car parks to cater for the demand generated by people attending the hospital.
The City of Casey is advocating for unpaid parking to be provided as part of the hospital development, however Monash Health (the future operator) will ultimately determine this.
