The state government has delivered a range of key investments for Melbourne’s north and west in Tuesday’s budget, including money to open and operate the Craigieburn Community Hospital and funding for long- anticipated road upgrades in Donnybrook and Greenvale.
The Craigieburn Community Hospital is a small public hospital providing a range of important everyday health services including urgent care, day surgery and public dental. According to the government, the new community hospital will help take pressure off nearby major hospitals, including Northern Hospital Epping. It will also enable more people to manage their health needs closer to home with links to specialists, community health providers and social support services.
The government said that while construction of Mernda Community Hospital was still ongoing, details of its opening would be released soon.
The budget also included a $437 million investment to expand the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) based at Northern Hospital. The service currently supports more than 550 people per day with free online urgent care and is set to scale up to 1,570 daily consultations by 2028-29.
Education featured in the budget, with $1 million set aside for a feasibility study into a future maths and science school in Melbourne’s north-west.
Local schools will also benefit, including $800,000 for modernisation works at Hazel Glen College in Doreen and $362,000 for Meadow Heights Primary School.
Planning funds have been allocated for Greenvale Primary and The Grange P–12 College.
Transport infrastructure has also received a lift, with the budget allocating funding to upgrade the intersection of Donnybrook Road and Mitchell Street and deliver Stage 2 of the Mickleham Road Upgrade in Greenvale.
Other budget announcements include $162 million to improve the bus network in the north, including a new service connecting Mystique Estate in Wollert’s north to Epping Station. Beveridge and Broadmeadows will also get new or improved services.
