Building a new hospital for Melton

The Victorian Government has committed more than $900 million to deliver a new Melton Hospital in Cobblebank, which will transform Melbourne’s booming outer west, giving the community access to better healthcare facilities closer to home.

The fully electric hospital will deliver 24/7 emergency, at least 274 beds, an intensive care unit, maternity and neonatal services, mental health services, radiology services and outpatient care.

Once completed, Melton Hospital will have capacity to treat 130,000 patients each year and see almost 60,000 patients in the emergency department.

Works are expected to get underway in 2024 and be finished in 2029.

This landmark project for Melbourne’s outer west is being delivered by VHBA in partnership with Western Health which will operate the hospital.

Illustration of two people talking

Key questions

Why does Melton need a new hospital?

Melton is one of the fastest growing communities in Australia. The new Melton Hospital is being built to meet the growing demand for health services in Melbourne’s outer west, driven by population growth, increasing use of hospital services and the high proportion of young families in the area.

Will the hospital be a public hospital? Who will operate the new hospital?

The new Melton Hospital will be a public hospital. This much-needed project is being delivered in partnership with Western Health, who will operate the hospital.

What will be delivered?

The new Melton Hospital will include:

a 24-hour emergency department
274 beds
an intensive care unit
maternity and neonatal services
mental health services, radiology services and ambulatory care
a new education and training hub for doctors and nurses in Melbourne’s west.

Where is the new hospital being built?

The new hospital will be built at 245-267 Ferris Road, Cobblebank, within the future Cobblebank Metropolitan Activity Centre.

Benefits to this site location include:

close to the Cobblebank train station and Western Freeway
ease of access to retail, sports and school zones
opportunity for future expansion and development of the site
local access to services for the residents of Melton and surrounds.

It will provide an essential link with services at other public hospitals in the western region – including Sunshine Hospital and the new Footscray Hospital.

How will the new Melton Hospital be delivered?

The new Melton Hospital will be delivered as a public private partnership (PPP) under the Partnerships Victoria Framework.

Melton Hospital will be a public hospital, with all clinical health services operated and provided by Western Health.

What is a public private partnership (PPP)?

The PPP model involves an extensive and competitive tender process to bring together a private consortium to design, construct, finance and maintain the new facility for up to 25 years.

We have an excellent history of successful hospital PPP projects here in Victoria, notably:

the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
the Royal Women’s Hospital
the Royal Children’s Hospital
Casey Hospital
Bendigo Hospital.

The new Footscray Hospital and Frankston Hospital redevelopment currently both under construction are also being delivered as PPP projects.

$900 MILLION+

INVESTMENT

274

BEDS

24/7

EMERGENCY CARE

2024

WORKS START

2029

HOSPITAL OPENS

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Location

A map that shows the location of the new Melton Hospital near Ferris Road

Illustration of male construction worker carrying timber post

Building your new Melton Hospital

As one of the most significant new hospital projects in the State, it takes a lot of planning and meaningful engagement with the local community and a range of stakeholders to help shape the services, priorities and look and feel of a new hospital.

It’s a complex job but we’re well on our way…

1. Health Service Plan (2018 - 2019) Health service planning professionals work together to determine the current and future health needs of Melbourne’s west, including Melton and surrounding communities, and how those needs can best be met.

1. Health Service Plan

(2018 - 2019) Health service planning professionals work together to determine the current and future health needs of Melbourne’s west, including Melton and surrounding communities, and how those needs can best be met.
2. Business case (2019 – 2021) In 2019, the Victorian Government invested $2.4 million to begin planning for the new Melton Hospital. This planning work included commencing a business case for consideration by government, including the proposed location, size and range of services the hospital will offer. An additional $5 million was provided for further planning in the 20/21 Budget.

2. Business case

(2019 – 2021) In 2019, the Victorian Government invested $2.4 million to begin planning for the new Melton Hospital. This planning work included commencing a business case for consideration by government, including the proposed location, size and range of services the hospital will offer. An additional $5 million was provided for further planning in the 20/21 Budget.
3. Land acquisition (2021) In November 2020, the Victorian Government announced that $70 million would be allocated in the 20/21 Victorian State Budget to secure the land and undertake necessary early works. In July 2021, the Minister for Health announced the new Melton Hospital would be located at 245-267 Ferris Road, Cobblebank.

3. Land acquisition

(2021) In November 2020, the Victorian Government announced that $70 million would be allocated in the 20/21 Victorian State Budget to secure the land and undertake necessary early works. In July 2021, the Minister for Health announced the new Melton Hospital would be located at 245-267 Ferris Road, Cobblebank.
4. Project funded (2022) In the 22/23 State Budget, the new Melton Hospital was fully funded, with more than $900 million committed to deliver the hospital by 2029.

4. Project funded

(2022) In the 22/23 State Budget, the new Melton Hospital was fully funded, with more than $900 million committed to deliver the hospital by 2029.
5. Preparation for early works (Mid-2022 onwards) Site preparation works are underway. VHBA is undertaking extensive engagement with Melton City Council and relevant utility authorities to deliver all the necessary power, gas, stormwater drainage and other utility infrastructure (as well as road access including Bridge Road, Coach Street and East Road) to the site in time for the start of construction. Geotechnical, geothermal and site surveys have now been completed, while VHBA has recently submitted its planning permit application to allow for subdivision for the delivery of Coach Street and East Road. Melton City Council will also soon start on the construction of Bridge Road following a competitive tender process later this year. These connections will not only service the new Melton Hospital site but also the broader precinct. The government intends to financially support the development of precinct infrastructure. Development and approval of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan will occur later this year.

5. Preparation for early works

(Mid-2022 onwards) Site preparation works are underway. VHBA is undertaking extensive engagement with Melton City Council and relevant utility authorities to deliver all the necessary power, gas, stormwater drainage and other utility infrastructure (as well as road access including Bridge Road, Coach Street and East Road) to the site in time for the start of construction. Geotechnical, geothermal and site surveys have now been completed, while VHBA has recently submitted its planning permit application to allow for subdivision for the delivery of Coach Street and East Road. Melton City Council will also soon start on the construction of Bridge Road following a competitive tender process later this year. These connections will not only service the new Melton Hospital site but also the broader precinct. The government intends to financially support the development of precinct infrastructure. Development and approval of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan will occur later this year.
6. Community consultation (From September 2022 onwards) Now is an important time for the community to have their say. We want community input to help shape things like key family and public spaces, accessibility and more. Opportunities for input will be provided in multiple ways to ensure everyone can have their say, such as through the Community Consultative Committee, information sessions and online surveys.

6. Community consultation

(From September 2022 onwards) Now is an important time for the community to have their say. We want community input to help shape things like key family and public spaces, accessibility and more. Opportunities for input will be provided in multiple ways to ensure everyone can have their say, such as through the Community Consultative Committee, information sessions and online surveys.
7. Industry briefing and Expressions of Interest (Late 2022 – Early 2023) The government invites the industry, including potential bidders to a briefing on the project. This ensures the industry has clarity and understanding of the project requirements before the competitive tender process begins. Following the industry briefing, the government releases an Invitation for Expressions of Interest, calling suitable consortia to present their capabilities and expertise for delivering the new Melton Hospital.

7. Industry briefing and Expressions of Interest

(Late 2022 – Early 2023) The government invites the industry, including potential bidders to a briefing on the project. This ensures the industry has clarity and understanding of the project requirements before the competitive tender process begins. Following the industry briefing, the government releases an Invitation for Expressions of Interest, calling suitable consortia to present their capabilities and expertise for delivering the new Melton Hospital.
8 Shortlisted bidders and Request For Proposal (Mid-2023) After evaluating expressions of interest, the government provides a Request for Proposal (RFP) to a shortlist of bidders that sets out the State’s detailed requirements for the project. It’s now time for the shortlisted consortia to prepare detailed proposals to deliver the new Melton Hospital in the most innovative and cost-effective way. This is a highly competitive and detailed process where bidders will do their own research and community engagement as they look to put their best foot forward.

8 Shortlisted bidders and Request For Proposal

(Mid-2023) After evaluating expressions of interest, the government provides a Request for Proposal (RFP) to a shortlist of bidders that sets out the State’s detailed requirements for the project. It’s now time for the shortlisted consortia to prepare detailed proposals to deliver the new Melton Hospital in the most innovative and cost-effective way. This is a highly competitive and detailed process where bidders will do their own research and community engagement as they look to put their best foot forward.
9. Winning consortium chosen (2024) After the consortia have submitted their detailed proposals, government begins an extensive evaluation process to identify a preferred bidder and a proposal that will deliver the best value-for-money outcome.

9. Winning consortium chosen

(2024) After the consortia have submitted their detailed proposals, government begins an extensive evaluation process to identify a preferred bidder and a proposal that will deliver the best value-for-money outcome.
10. Design release and start of works (2024) With contracts finalised the winning design of the new Melton Hospital is released, and works will begin on site. We’ll keep the community updated every step of the way, celebrating project milestones and keeping our project neighbours informed of what’s happening on site.

10. Design release and start of works

(2024) With contracts finalised the winning design of the new Melton Hospital is released, and works will begin on site. We’ll keep the community updated every step of the way, celebrating project milestones and keeping our project neighbours informed of what’s happening on site.
11. Design development (2024-2029) While works take place, special user groups made up of health care staff and other experts will get to work with the winning consortium to finalise the design of the hospital, including the design of clinical spaces to ensure they are fit for purpose. Before the design is finalised, clinical prototype rooms will be built to allow these user groups to walk through the spaces and provide further feedback.

11. Design development

(2024-2029) While works take place, special user groups made up of health care staff and other experts will get to work with the winning consortium to finalise the design of the hospital, including the design of clinical spaces to ensure they are fit for purpose. Before the design is finalised, clinical prototype rooms will be built to allow these user groups to walk through the spaces and provide further feedback.
12. Commissioning and completion (2029) Once the new hospital is complete, commissioning takes place: this is where all parts of the new hospital are clinically cleaned, tested and approved in readiness for the hospital to open. Once everything has passed, the building surveyor delivers the appropriate certifications and staff move in, ready to open for patients!

12. Commissioning and completion

(2029) Once the new hospital is complete, commissioning takes place: this is where all parts of the new hospital are clinically cleaned, tested and approved in readiness for the hospital to open. Once everything has passed, the building surveyor delivers the appropriate certifications and staff move in, ready to open for patients!
13. The new Melton Hospital opens (2029) The most exciting part – the new Melton Hospital is fully operational! Your new Melton Hospital is expected to open in 2029.

13. The new Melton Hospital opens

(2029) The most exciting part – the new Melton Hospital is fully operational! Your new Melton Hospital is expected to open in 2029.

Illustration of three people talking

Community engagement

It takes a lot of planning and many conversations to work out what the right hospital for your community will look like.

Throughout the process, we engage with service users, people with lived experience, staff, experts and the local community to identify the new hospital’s requirements to ensure we deliver an asset that reflects the community it serves.

Architects, engineers, health planners, hospital staff and community advisory groups all contribute to shaping the design, by considering things like how the patient will move through the hospital.

Opportunities for community input will be provided in multiple ways to ensure everyone can have their say, such as through the community consultative committee, information sessions and online surveys.

Community input will be captured and provided to shortlisted bidders, with the opportunity to be reflected in the design and operation of the new hospital.

We’re committed to keeping you informed and involved in the development of your new Melton Hospital.

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Industry briefing

An illustration of construction workers in hard hats looking at plans on a table

Major infrastructure partners were invited to attend the New Melton Hospital Project’s inaugural industry briefing on 6 October 2022.

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Building a new hospital for Melton (PDF)
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