Prime plan

By Jade Lawton
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has praised Berwick’s $2.5 million GP super clinic as ‘one of the most attractive in the country.’
Mr Rudd visited Berwick on Friday to view plans for the clinic, which will operate from Monash University’s grounds on Clyde Road.
The clinic will offer a one-stop health shop to the burgeoning Casey community.
Residents will be able to access GPs, nurses, and specialist practitioners.
Pharmacy and pathology services are also expected to be included on-site.
Work on the clinic began this month and the building is expected to be up and running by April next year.
Mr Rudd viewed a slideshow of plans for the clinic and heaped praise on the building’s design.
“These are springing up around the country and this is one of the most attractive,” he said.
“I imagine there are all sorts of pressures on accident and emergency at Casey, like other clinics around the country. This will be somewhere for kids to go when they get crook, and they (will) get proper and integrated care,” he said.
Chairman of the Berwick Casey Superclinic consortium, Graeme Downe, said he was pleased to welcome Mr Rudd to the clinic at such an early stage.
“The Berwick region has been an area of explosive growth. We have insisted on building plans with the contingency to add a further expansion including a second floor to the building as we remain very positive about the future development of this venture.
“With further expansion we envisage the clinic acting as a hub for further primary care educational activities in this outer metropolitan region.”
Mr Rudd also discussed his vision for Australia’s growth corridors, with high-speed broadband, affordable housing and investment in schools all initiatives to benefit Casey-Cardinia.
Mr Rudd said the government’s two housing affordability funds, which were to help Australians buy or rent a home, were each worth about half a billion dollars.
“And between these electorates (Holt and La Trobe) we have spent more than $200 million on new libraries, gymnasiums, and classrooms for schools,” he said.
Mr Rudd also talked up his candidate for La Trobe, Laura Smyth.
“Laura is a first-class candidate. She knows the area well, and I’ve had several meetings with her. You will see a lot more of her, myself and the Deputy Prime Minister in La Trobe,” he said. “Laura is going to be a very strong local voice for the community in this part of the world.”
But La Trobe MP Jason Wood, a Liberal, was doubtful the super clinic project would be delivered on time and on budget.
“If Kevin Rudd couldn’t manage installing pink batts in roofs, I haven’t got much faith in him to deliver this project on time, on budget and without a rip-off or rort,” Mr Wood said.
Berwick’s GP super clinic is one of 36 being established across the country as part of a Federal Government initiative to ease pressure on hospitals.