Gippsland Lakes Community Health (GLCH) has secured a $500,000 Federal Government grant to expand services in Bairnsdale to meet growing demand.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester today announced the government would fund half of a $1 million upgrade at the McCulloch Street premises in Bairnsdale.
“This project will provide more consulting rooms so additional staff can be employed to meet the growing demand for health services in Bairnsdale,” Mr Chester said.
“Gippsland Lakes Community Health will employ another 55 staff in medical and health fields; as well as creating 20 new jobs during the construction phase.
“There will also be a potential business boost for local suppliers to help Gippsland Lakes Community Health cater for the growing demand in services.”
GLCH Chief Executive Officer Sue Medson said the upgrade would include additional allied health treatment spaces, counselling rooms, meeting spaces and offices.
“This project is designed to maintain the health and wellbeing of our communities. It will create dozens of new jobs in an area where employment is limited, and relieve pressure on our existing infrastructure,” Mrs Medson said.
“We will increase our aged and disability and family violence services, creating a total of 50 new jobs. We will also create five new on-going positions as we expand our work in alcohol and other drugs, paediatrics and adult allied services.”
The $1 million project, due to be completed by September next year, will be jointly funded by GLCH. The Federal Government component is from the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).
The Mallacoota Recreation Reserve will also receive funding through the BBRF.
The Mallacoota community clubrooms project has been granted $725,000 to build community meeting rooms with canteen, kitchen, toilets and shower facilities. The building will be used to cater for local community and sporting events and provide a community meeting place during emergencies.
Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said The Nationals created the Building Better Regions Fund to help build strong communities for decades to come.
“I aim to help build the kinds of regional communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to, and projects like this one do exactly that,” Minister Nash said.
Minister Nash said she expected to open another round of BBRF before the end of the year.
Minister Nash will announce the successful applicants for funding under the BBRF’s Community Investments Stream – for projects designed to support a range of local capability-building activities – in the coming months.
For more information, visit www.business.gov.au/bbrf.
