Stockland breaks ground on $6 million Medical Facility for Highlands community
Hume residents will soon have easy access to a new state of the art facility right on their doorstep, with Stockland today marking the start of construction on a $6 million medical facility to be built within the award winning1 Stockland Highlands masterplanned community.
Rob Mitchell MP, Federal Member for McEwan and Second Deputy Speaker; and Ros Spence MP, State Member for Yuroke and Parliamentary Secretary for Public Transport, attended the event to celebrate the milestone and turn the first sod. Stockland will work in partnership with Australia's leading healthcare provider, Primary Health Care, who will operate and manage the new 1,500 square metre medical facility.
Scheduled to open in mid-2017 to all members of the community, the medical centre will include General Practitioners, a pharmacy, dentists, radiology, physiotherapy, pathology and diagnostic imaging services. This new facility is conveniently positioned adjoining Highlands Retirement Village on the corner of Central Park Avenue and Aitken Boulevard in Craigieburn North.
Stockland Group Executive and CEO of Retirement Living, Stephen Bull said: “We are very excited to start construction on Stockland’s first medical centre facility. This development is in line with our core strategy to provide excellent outcomes for residents in our communities and deliver convenient services close to home.
“This new facility will encourage happier, healthier residents with much needed health practitioners for Highlands, whether you are a young family visiting the dentist or a retiree going for your weekly GP visit, it’s all right there on your doorstep.” Rob Mitchell MP, Federal Member for McEwan and Second Deputy Speaker, said: “As Craigieburn and the surrounding communities continue to grow, multi-disciplinary facilities like this medical centre are essential. This is a fantastic example of strong community partnerships and the value they bring.”
Ros Spence MP, State Member for Yuroke and Parliamentary Secretary for Public Transport, said: “The growing Craigieburn community will be well-served by this new start-of-the-art facility and I am sure the medical services provided will benefit residents for many years to come.”
Under the new partnership, Stockland and Primary Health Care will deliver much needed health services for the Hume region as outlined in the Hume City Council Health Infrastructure Plan2. The present ratio of health practitioners to residents within Craigieburn is 2.1 GPs per 1,000 people, which is currently around 50 per cent below that of metropolitan Melbourne average ratio.
Primary Health Care General Manager Medical Centres - Bulk Billing Division, John Houston, said: “Primary provides high quality, affordable, co-ordinated healthcare in Australia, undertaking approximately 8 million consultations each year. We are proud to partner with Stockland to deliver this modern, multi-disciplinary medical centre to the people of Hume.
“With the suburb of Craigieburn expected to grow by approximately 19,000 people by 2036, the new centre will play a critical role in providing healthcare to this growing community.”
Stockland General Manager Victoria, Mike Davis, said residents of Stockland’s Highlands can look forward to an even greater choice of facilities right on their doorstep.
"Our award-winning Highlands community already offers recreation, retail, transport and education services that set the standard across Melbourne’s north. As one of Australia’s fastest growing communities, this new facility will be a great addition to the community ensuring our 12,000 residents have greater access to local health and wellbeing services.”
1 Stockland Highlands won the Property Council of Australia (PCA) National Award 2015 for Best Masterplanned Community, and also won the UDIA National Award 2013 for Best Masterplanned Residential Community.
