BENDIGO will be hoping the state government honours its 2006 election promises when the state budget is announced on Tuesday.
While Bendigo Health is not expecting funding for a redevelopment of the city’s public hospital, the organsation is hopeful  of a capital funding boost for an interim solution to the emergency department space constraints and the relocation of the 60-bed Stella Anderson nursing home.
The state government pledged $12 million during the 2006 election campaign to rebuild the nursing home.
Bendigo Health revealed in December last year it would push for an urgent multi-million dollar upgrade to its emergency department in this year’s budget.
The hospital is seeking up to $10 million for an immediate re-build of the department.
The organisation’s chief executive John Mulder said the upgrade was needed to tide the department over until the $400 million redevelopment of the total hospital site was finished.
“We are talking with government about a Stage 0,” he said.
“Essentially, it is an interim solution for our emergency department pressures and some infrastructure in terms of mechanical and electrical services to ensure the hospital can cope with present demand and continues to function in the lead up to the re-building of the service.
“The intent is to add another floor on top of the building, which would allow all of the administrative components within the building to move upstairs, and allow for an expansion of the cubicles and the working space.
Member for Northern Victoria and shadow minister for country Victoria Wendy Lovell this week backed calls for the Stella Anderson Nursing Home funding to be announced, but went one step further in calling for a commitment to fully fund the redevelopment and expansion of Bendigo Hospital, including the expansion of the emergency department as an interim measure.

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Ms Lovell also wants the government to allocate $52 million to complete the Bendigo Education Plan and advance the Bendigo Transportation Study to identify options to alleviate traffic congestion in the city’s CBD.
“The state government must also honour its 2006 election promise to build permanent classrooms at Lockwood South Primary School to replace existing portables,” Ms Lovell said.
“The Bendigo community want to see its vision for Bendigo recognised in next week’s budget.
“If these projects are not funded in the budget, the Bendigo community has every right to ask what its elected members are doing for the region.”