Politics
Victorian Regional Infrastructure Bill 2026 Directs Funds to Bendigo Health and La Trobe Campus Works
The legislation lists capital grants for upgrades at Bendigo Health on Lucan Street and La Trobe University Bendigo, with spending expected to support construction roles and expanded local health appointments from 2027.
How we reported this
The Victorian Regional Infrastructure Bill 2026 authorises specific capital grants for health and education facilities in regional Victoria, including listed amounts for Bendigo Health and the La Trobe University campus in Bendigo.
State budget papers from May 2026 identified maintenance backlogs at regional hospitals and campuses, leading parliament to pass the bill with project schedules tied to the 2027 financial year start.
Jobs and service changes for Bendigo residents
Works funded under the bill at Bendigo Health will focus on new diagnostic bays and emergency department extensions at the Lucan Street site, with the legislation stating these additions will raise outpatient capacity once construction finishes. Local residents who currently travel for certain scans or specialist reviews may see shorter wait times for those services after the upgrades open. The same schedule allocates separate funds to La Trobe University Bendigo for laboratory and teaching space refurbishments that the bill projects will maintain existing research activity while requiring additional technical support staff during and after the works.
Policy analysts note that the bill applies local content rules to all tender processes, directing departments to give preference to contractors based in the Bendigo region when awarding packages for earthworks, electrical fit-outs and equipment installation.
Budget figures and next steps
The bill's explanatory memorandum records a combined allocation of $40 million for the two Bendigo projects, with $28 million assigned to Bendigo Health capital works and $12 million to La Trobe University campus upgrades. The Productivity Commission has recorded that each $1 million spent on regional health infrastructure supports an average of 8.5 full time equivalent positions during the construction phase, a ratio the bill documentation cites for estimating local employment effects.
Departmental timelines attached to the legislation require tender documents to be released by December 2026, followed by contract awards in the first half of 2027 and physical works commencing later that year.