Bega MP Dr Michael Holland (left) was among those to grab a shovel at the sod-turning in Batemans Bay. Photo: Supplied.
The ground has been broken for work to begin on a new $20 million community health facility on the grounds of the current Batemans Bay Hospital.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park and Bega MP Dr Michael Holland marked the milestone with a sod-turning event that included planting three trees.
Mr Park lauded the project as providing a sustainable, purpose-built community health service to cater to the communities of Batemans Bay and surrounding areas.
“Having services including child and family health, Aboriginal and women’s health and drug and alcohol services all under the one roof will enhance accessibility and better support the health needs of people in Batemans Bay and surrounding areas,” Mr Park said.
“It is terrific to see construction underway on the new, purpose-built Batemans Bay Community Health facility, which will be transformative for staff and the local community.”
The facility will include:
- Allied health
- Child, youth and family services
- Women’s health
- Sexual health
- Community nursing and wound management
- Palliative care
- Aboriginal health
- Community mental health and drug and alcohol services
- Specialist outpatient clinics
- Pathology.
It will be built on the hospital site close to the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which opened in 2023. The build is expected to deliver a modern health centre with more spaces to better support the staff in providing enhanced care to the local community.
It will include interview, consultation, and treatment rooms for a range of services, a gymnasium, as well as larger rooms that can accommodate groups and families and be used as education spaces.
The investment into community health in Batemans Bay builds on the $330 million new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital in Moruya, which the government says will deliver an enhanced level of healthcare service and more beds than Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined.
The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will include a new and expanded emergency department, an eight-bed Intensive Care Unit and the first paediatric unit for the region. There will also be increased access to chemotherapy treatments and renal dialysis, modern surgical and operating theatres, expanded medical imaging, a mental health service, ambulatory care and outpatient services; and education facilities that will support the needs of the entire Eurobodalla Shire from Narooma to Batemans Bay.
However, it has not been without controversy, with a community group formed to protest against the planned closure of Batemans Bay’s emergency department when the new hospital opens.
Dr Holland, however, has defended the move, saying he was confident the planned closure would not affect healthcare outcomes.
“I look forward to seeing the new Batemans Bay Community Health facility come to life, with the contractor appointed and construction underway,” Dr Holland said.
Monarch Building Solutions Pty Limited has been awarded the contract for the new Batemans Bay Community Health facility following a competitive tender process. Site establishment works will start in the coming weeks, which will include the installation of site fencing and sheds.
Batemans Bay Hospital, including the current Community Health service, will continue to operate while the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and Batemans Bay Community Health facility are built.
Construction of the new health facility is expected to be completed in 2026, followed by an operational commissioning stage to support staff moving into the new facility.
