Liberals' $100m Albury Hospital pledge sparks mixed reaction

A pledge of an additional $100 million for the Albury Hospital redevelopment by the Victorian opposition has elicited a mixed response from community leaders. The funding, which would supplement the existing $558 million from federal, New South Wales, and Victorian government funding, aims to provide 50 more beds, a multistorey car park, and a full fit-out of the clinical services building, including a helipad, paediatric ward, and operating theatres.

Liberal candidate for Benambra Steve Martin stated that the commitment would also fund a health infrastructure feasibility study to determine whether long-term demand could be met over the next 25 years at the current 8-hectare Albury site or required a new location. "Immediately on being elected we'll be starting a feasibility study which will identify a preferred greenfield site and do a proper benefit cost assessment of continuing develop at the Albury site or starting on a new greenfield site," he said.

Mr. Martin emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the community's needs are pressing. "Everywhere I go I hear the needs are now and we need to be able to deliver something that will cater to our community as it needs now, but we're also mindful we need to start already preparing for what's next," he said. He also confirmed that the party would commit to delivering the newly promised services even if the cost rose above the $100 million budgeted figure.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the commitment was to provide "quality healthcare" for the community while also ensuring a "real plan" for the years to come. "An additional $100 million for Albury Wodonga Health means more beds, greater access, better clinical services and a real plan for the future health needs of this growing community," she said.

Better Border Health director Stan Stavros welcomed the announcement, stating he was "definitely appreciative" of the promise to deliver beds in modular wards. However, he suggested that more was needed, including modular operating theatres. "I think it should be extended to also providing … modular operating theatres which are quite a practical way of providing immediate relief over a number of years," he said.

On the other hand, Stan Stavros expressed concerns about investing in an existing brownfield site instead of a greenfield one, likening it to "Legoland for decades" of patch-ups and catch-ups. Wodonga Mayor and chair of the Alliance of Councils for Albury Wodonga Region Health Services Michael Gobel also had a "nuanced" response, welcoming the commitment to a feasibility study but questioning the expenditure of $658 million on the brownfield site.

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll criticized the announcement as "desperate politics" and accused the Liberals of being untrustworthy when pledging money to hospitals. "Don't listen to what they're saying. Look at what their actions have been. They've closed hospitals," he said.