THE long awaited helipad at Ballarat Base Hospital will be built as part of more than $46 million in new funding from tomorrow's state budget.
Health Minister David Davis said $46.4 million would be delivered for major works at the hospital, including the helipad, construction of a multi-deck car park, around 60 new beds and a new Ambulatory Care Centre.
The helipad will be built on top of the new car park, replacing the existing BHS parking area in Mair Street.
After more than a decade of campaigning from local activists and promises from both sides of politics, Mr Davis said the new facilities would deliver better emergency care to the Ballarat region.
"Having a helipad at the hospital will save lives by saving vital minutes in time-critical transfers and emergency arrivals."
"The project will also see the relocation of ambulatory care services to a new three-storey building at the front of the hospital, facing Drummond Street," Mr Davis said.
Click for a gallery of Ballarat's hospitals over the years
