FEDERAL Health Minister Nicola Roxon has handed Warrnambool a pre-budget gift worth $500,000 for construction of the $1.4 million Rotary House emergency accommodation complex for families and carers of visiting medical patients.
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The surprise allocation was celebrated yesterday by Rotarians and South West Healthcare leaders as an injection of confidence in moves to give the region world-class facilities, especially in cancer care.
It means the vision to have at least 12 accommodation units adjacent to the new Warrnambool base hospital will take shape earlier than expected and could be open for business by Christmas.
Rotary House committee chairman Andrew Suggett predicted a planning application could be on Warrnambool City Council tables in two weeks.
Mr Suggett said the city’s four Rotary clubs involved in the project had already raised $500,000 and the grant would leave only $400,000 to find.
South West Healthcare’s chief executive officer John Krygger welcomed the funding.
“I think it comes at a very good time and gives the project further momentum,” he said.
Mr Suggett said Ms Roxon’s approval of an application made last November would enable the project to start as soon as planning approval, a demolition permit and other vital preliminaries were sorted.
He was confident a compromise could be reached on heritage guidelines, which technically could prevent a conite cottage on the selected site at 325 Timor Street from being demolished.
A review panel report last month said it would be possible for an architect to design a new building with adequate compatibility with the heritage-listed street.
“When we get vacant possession we could start work on the project which has a six-to-eight month construction time,” Mr Suggett said.
“The original plan was for 12 rooms with a communal kitchen and dining rooms, we are exploring the option of going double storey at the rear to increase capacity.”
Mr Krygger said he included the Rotary House project in a submission to improve cancer services in the region.
The grant comes as the Peter’s Project committee aims to get government approval and funding for a proposed regional cancer care centre in Warrnambool.
The Victorian government has promised a cancer care centre will be built in Warrnambool to service the south-west by 2014
