A $600 million, 100,000 square metre healthcare precinct is in the works for Geelong and another healthcare facility in Richmond could be expanded after a deal between two health care companies.
Victoria’s Epworth Healthcare, which runs existing facilities in Geelong and Richmond, announced it had reached a property sale and leaseback agreement with Canadian company North West Healthcare Properties REIT, which will paved the way for the two major developments.
The expansion of the Epworth ELIM site in Richmond could deliver 5,000 square metres of gross floor area with a total project cost of approximately $23 million. North West said the expansion would be undertaken in conjunction with John Wardle Architects, Urbis and Lovell Chen. Together with Silver Thomas Hanley, John Wardle Architects has also worked on the design of Epworth’s Freemasons Albert Street hospital redevelopment.
A concept design for the Epworth Geelong development.
The Geelong project, meanwhile, to be delivered through a number of stages over more than 10 years, would create “a leading health and education precinct bringing together health services, researchers, technology, and industry partners into one ecosystem.”
North West’s Australia CEO Craig Mitchell said the site’s co-location with Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds Campus would create research and collaboration opportunities. “The opportunity of the Epworth Geelong site aligns closely to NorthWest’s investment and development principles – providing the opportunity to develop a precinct that will enable the delivery of world class healthcare services, innovation and education to Geelong and its surrounds,” he said.
Key areas of focus will include allied health and rehabilitation, medical research, industry partners and emerging technologies, aged care and retirement, childcare and health education among others.
