By Corey Everitt
Demolition has begun on the old Woolworths building in Pakenham Place marking the long-awaited start to the Pakenham Community Hospital.
Pakenham MP Emma Vulin gave an update last week on the hospital as some residents may have noticed the site becoming a ‘hive of activity’.
Vulin said the demolition of the old Woolworths building has begun, and the site is expected to be cleared by the end of the year.
Major construction is expected to follow in 2025 with completion set for 2026.
Offering non-critical service, Vulin said the community hospital would help ‘take the pressure off’ for other local services such as Casey Hospital.
“I think this is going to be a wonderful asset for our community joining on to our project at Pakenham Station,” Vulin said.
“There is so much going on here in Pakenham, it’s very exciting and I’m so glad to see these works finally taking place.”
The community hospital will be managed by Monash Health when operational.
It will provide a range of services for people who are not critically unwell including:
– Allied health and rehabilitation
– Alcohol and drug support
– Chronic disease management
– Day chemotherapy
– Diagnostics including pathology and imaging
– Mental health support
– Public dental
– Renal dialysis
– Social support
– Specialist appointments
– Urgent care.
The construction of the community hospital has faced delays, originally set for completion this year before being pushed to 2026.
A significant influence on the delays has been the disputes with the developer of Pakenham Place, who owned the site and planned to include it in their development before the State Government took it under compulsory acquisition.
Priceline Pharmacy Pakenham has watched Pakenham Place remain unchanged across the car park from the old Woolworths building, and owner Jeff Thom is glad to see action at the site.
“It’s good they have started finally, they seem to be there most days of the week so it looks like it’s happening quickly,” he said.
“It’s quite loud, we can feel the shaking, but it’s good they are getting into it and the sooner it’s done the better.”
Priceline has been at their new site for 18 months, the old Woolworths building was where the pharmacy began in 2002 and would be their home for 20 years.
Thom worked there for 30 years, a decade before the pharmacy became Priceline.
“It’s a bit sad seeing it be knocked down, but we are here now and it’s good they are getting it done.”
A spokesperson for the State Government said updates will follow as works progress.
“Critical planning, design and site preparation works to progress the Pakenham Community Hospital are continuing,“ the spokesperson said.
“We will continue to update the local community on this important health infrastructure project as it progresses.“
