By Jaidyn Kennedy
Point Cook residents are calling on the state government to prioritise the completion of the suburb’s delayed community hospital.
In the lead up to the November 2018 election, the state government announced it would spend $675 million to build 10 community hospitals in major growth areas, including Point Cook.
At the time, the government said Construction of the hospitals was expected to begin in 2022 and finish in 2024.
In February 2022, the government announced that land had been secured for the Point Cook Community Hospital at 140 Dunnings Road, with Lendlease Building Contractors appointed as the project’s builder in June that year.
Star Weekly understands that construction of the community hospital commence once the state government and Bunurong Land Council finish archaeological assessments as part of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) for the project.
The state government hopes to open the hospital in 2026.
Point Cook Action Group vice president Benish Chaudhry said the area is currently too dependent on Werribee Mercy Hospital.
“I think it is really important for everyone to understand the population here is too big for the Mercy catchment alone,” she said.
Ms Chaudhry said that wait times at Mercy are forcing residents to travel outside of Wyndham for treatment.
“People from Point Cook are rushing to Sunshine or the Royal Children’s Hospital [in Parkville] because the wait times at Mercy are too long,” she said.
“When people go to Mercy, they have to clear their schedules for the day.
“People have to take shifts looking after their kids – it’s not enough for one person to do it.
“I’m not in any way saying the operation of Mercy is bad, but they are just under so much pressure with the growing population.”
The community hospital will provide specialist services such as chemotherapy, dialysis and public dental treatments, which Ms Chaudhry said would be a game-changer for locals.
“For Point Cook residents there is a lack of specialist services in the west … we have to go to the city or east for special services.
“We have a lot of roadworks, but I think as of now health and education should be prioritised now.”
