Ballan GP Superclinic’s $3.3 million expansion is almost finished and should be ready for opening by July.
“It’s about 90 per cent finished; I’d give it a few more weeks,” Ballan District Health Care’s new chief executive, Wayne Weaire, said. “We’ve had a lot of interest from the area. Everyone is taking real pride in the project.”
The addition includes consulting and treatment rooms, gymnasium rehabilitation facilities, hydrotherapy pool, pathology service, educational facilities, community meeting rooms and space for extra staff.
Ballarat MP and opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King toured the building with Mr Weaire last Tuesday.
She said the facility was the first of Australia’s 34 GP superclinics to open, in 2009. There are other Victorian centres at Bendigo, Wallan, Berwick and Geelong.
“We’re looking forward to talking to the community about how they’d like to use the facility,” Mr Weaire said.
“It looks like programs will open until 9am, then there’ll be specialist rehabilitation classes during the day, swim sessions for infants and children under five in late afternoon, then community groups can use it with a membership in the evening.”
More than 130 staff and 50 volunteers will provide general and specialist medical and dental services for Ballan. “This will ensure the Ballan community can access important health services closer to home, ” Mr Weaire said.
