ARTIST impressions of a new but never built Mildura Base Hospital have drawn the ire of a local former state MP.
The drawings, created by architectural firm HSPC – who specialise in hospital and healthcare work – were commissioned by the Victorian Health Building Authority but never released publicly by the State Government.
They were available on the company’s website but have since been removed, although are still available via internet archiving services.
“HSPC approached the masterplan for Mildura Rural Base Hospital with a comprehensive strategy, characterised by innovation and a fresh perspective, unencumbered by the site’s past history,” the website said.
“This allowed us to explore new avenues and possibilities for the hospital’s development.”
Ali Cupper, who was the State Member for Mildura at the time the drawings were created, described them as “bittersweet”.
“It was a bittersweet moment seeing the artist’s impression of the proposed Mildura Base Public Hospital,” she said.
“It confirms how far advanced those plans were and how much slipped through our fingers when our political relevance evaporated on 26th November 2022.
“People still make the comment that the state ends at Bendigo. But it didn’t end at Bendigo between 2018 and 2022 because we were politically relevant.
“In that term, our hospital was returned to public management and we secured $2 million for a masterplan for a hospital redevelopment.
“Unfortunately, the Government did not release the masterplan before the 2022 State Election, and when our political relevance fell off a cliff on election night, it had no reason to.
“But we must hold on to the grand vision for healthcare in our region. Political fortunes can change quickly if we make smart choices.
“We must treat those artist’s impressions as a source of inspiration, not disappointment, and keep fighting.”
