News

Tenders called for hospital accommodation project

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 06:35:00

Work is expected to start within two months on a nine million dollar project for new accommodation for medical professionals and students in Mildura.

The tenders of several suitable construction companies are currently being considered for the building of fully self-contained apartments on a site next to the old Mildura Base Hospital in 13th Street. 
The Mildura Base Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Dane Huxley said the project would provide accommodation for students, practitioners and medical officers employed or training at the Mildura Base Hospital.
“Lanyon House, which has served the hospital so well, is now dated and past its use-by date,” Mr Huxley said.
“The new two-storey complex will be attractive, functional and an asset to our efforts in trying to attract key staff, as well as students, to the region.”
The two-storey complex will comprise 35 single units and two double units, providing accommodation for medical, nursing and allied health students and practitioners employed or training at the hospital.  There will be on-site car parking for tenants, a multi-purpose building and laundry.
Mr Huxley said the aim of the higher standard of accommodation was to support the hospital’s efforts to attract more medical students and trainees to Mildura and to allow the region to retain more health professionals. 
“We need to be able to compete successfully with centres such as Ballarat and Bendigo, and a number of key specialist recruitments in recent months show that we do have some advantages and strengths, such as lifestyle and professional opportunity,” Mr Huxley said.
“But with this development, the accommodation we can offer will be another strength we can draw on.”
The accommodation project is the second stage of the Mildura Base Hospital redevelopment, the first stage of which is the current upgrade of the hospital’s accident and emergency, maternity and mental health departments. 
It is expected construction of the accommodation will begin around May.  The Federal Government has provided $9M to complete the project.  View the artist's impression of the new buildings here.