Eastern Melbourne’s politicians fight over Maroondah Hospital’s $850 million upgrades as 2029 deadline looms

Plans included more than 200 extra beds, a new emergency department and a dedicated children's unit.

Author

Matthew Sims
May 06, 2026

Ringwood East’s Maroondah Hospital redevelopment has not received construction funding in this year’s budget, with the minimum $850 million project facing a 2029 deadline if it is to be completed on time.

However, the State Government has dismissed claims from opposition and independent MPs the project had been “scrapped”, calling the accusations “an attempt to score cheap political points” and stating planning was still underway.

⌚ How’d we get here? In September 2022, Former Premier Daniel Andrews first announced a minimum $850 million commitment towards the redevelopment and expansion of Maroondah Hospital, with a new name of Queen Elizabeth II Hospital also proposed.

  • Construction was originally slated to begin in 2025.

  • Plans included more than 200 extra beds, a new emergency department and a dedicated children's emergency unit.

  • The latest public update was in July 2023, highlighting that expressions of interest were open for a master plan and feasibility study.

  • While no major work has begun, the project remains on the State Government’s list of projects set to be delivered with support from the $320 million Hospital Infrastructure Delivery fund first outlined in the 2023-24 budget.

  • The updated hospital was first projected to open in 2029. 

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🗓️ Months of planning: The State Government has been assessing the existing conditions of the Ringwood East site over the past 12 months.

  • 🗣️ “While local MPs attempt to score cheap political points and spread misinformation, we’re getting on with delivering the QEII Hospital,” a State Government spokesperson told the Eastern Melburnian. “Delivering a project of this scale requires significant planning – this work is well underway.”

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😡 Opposition responds: North Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Nick McGowan said not seeing money committed for another year was “heartbreaking”.

  • 🗣️ “Today’s silence represents a betrayal of trust,” McGowan told the Eastern Melburnian. “Not a cent of funding to construct a toilet, much less an entire hospital which locals were told would start being built last year.”

  • Independent Ringwood MP Will Fowles, formerly a Labor MP, said the omission of funding for the hospital was “shameful” and “unacceptable”.