A $3.57 MILLION Community Mental Health and Wellbeing project located on Lonsdale Street, Hamilton has commenced construction this week, with anticipation to open mid-2025.

South West Healthcare’s brand-new Community Mental Health and Wellbeing centre intends to enhance accessibility to mental health and wellbeing support in the Southern Grampians region.

The new community mental health and wellbeing building will include five new consultation suites, separate waiting rooms for adults and children, observation play spaces and secure outdoor areas featuring sensory garden elements.

These additions are designed to improve wellbeing and support for individuals in Hamilton and surrounding communities.

The facility will also boast spacious staff areas, providing dedicated workspaces for both local staff and the daily visiting mental health teams from Warrnambool.

Last November, the Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) discussed the application for the mental health service centre at the Lonsdale Street site.

SGSC Wellbeing, Planning and Regulation director, Rory Neeson, presented the detailing of the facility, however access via St. Mary’s Lane became a topic of debate as Mr Neeson explained the council-owned road would need considerable work for the application to go ahead.

He also said Council would be entering into a 50/50 arrangement with the state-funded health service to fund the estimated $200,000 required, with council’s share capped at $100,000.

South West Healthcare’s Hamilton Community Mental Health team have collaborated with Ultrabuild Construction Group, a family-run business based in Hamilton that will be responsible for building and overseeing all aspects of construction of the new facility.

The Ultrabuild team have been anticipating the completion of earthworks in the coming weeks, marking the beginning of the much-needed upgrade to accessing mental health services in the region.

Ultrabuild director, Ryan Hatherell expressed his enthusiasm as a local resident and highlighted the significance of partnering with a local, family-operated business and emphasised the positive impact that this collaboration will have on supporting other local contractors from the South West region.

“We’re thrilled to have sub-contractors joining us from all across the stretch between Hamilton and Warrnambool,” he said. 

“Having this kind of local support for a project of this nature is incredibly beneficial and ensures seamless and efficient construction activities.”

The collaborative efforts of South West Healthcare’s Hamilton Community Mental Health team, paediatric cohorts and project architects AVOR have played a pivotal role in the project’s design and development.

Multiple co-design workshops have facilitated valuable feedback and input, ensuring the design aligned with contemporary best practices, ultimately supporting mental health teams in delivering high-quality care.

The team have worked tirelessly to input their expertise into the design of the brand-new Community Mental Health and Wellbeing hub, due for delivery mid next year.

Visit the South West Healthcare Redevelopment Projects online at bit.ly/3XXFc0G for the latest updates on the project.