Pakenham
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KINDER SURPRISE BERNIE’S BATTLE Government won’t intervene Hope for Light Horse Museum PAGE 3 Wednesday, 26 July, 2017
A Star News Group publication Phone: 5945 0666 Classifieds: 1300 666 808
■ Plan for new hospital ...
Dose of job hope By Bonny Burrows Cardinia Shire may soon have its own hospital complete with an emergency department, intensive care unit and eight operating theatres. The private hospital is part of the proposed Cardinia Health Precinct which would see more than 2000 health professionals work and live close to the Officer South site or, in some instances, at the location in specialised housing. Plans for the precinct are in their very early stages, with councillors at the 24 July Cardinia Shire Council special meeting voting to seek State Government authorisation to rezone 27 hectares of the site, bordered by Cardinia Road to the east, an extension of Thompsons Road to the south and Gum Scrub Creek to the west to support the development. If approved, the health precinct will contain the shire’s first hospital since the original Pakenham Bush Hospital. It will include a specialised medical centre, a stand-alone day surgery unit, a 228-bed aged care facility, residential hotel for precinct employees and the general public, a childcare centre, retail outlets, and a 600sqm gymnasium
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and wellness centre. The development is expected to create 1627 full-time jobs during construction and an ongoing 2884 jobs once complete. The council believes a precinct of this size with onsite accommodation would go “a long way” towards keeping workers in the area. Currently, 70 per cent of Cardinia Shire residents of working age travel outside the shire for employment. According to the council, “the south-east corridor is experiencing high level of population growth but low or delayed delivery of jobs”. “The number of jobs available is lower than the number of people working in the area and, as a result, residents are travelling long distances to their jobs,” the precinct’s proposal reads. Councillor Michael Schilling said that this was the definitely the case in the healthcare sector. “This is a massive development to go ahead in Cardinia. In my understanding, 1600 jobs is not something we have seen or will see for a long time,” Cr Schilling said.
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Officer and a gentleman The Memorial Gates and Ben Tivendale - two icons of the town of Officer stood side-by-side on Saturday, both standing proud and still going strong. Just like the gates, the name Tivendale is synonymous with the town, a bond set to grow even stronger when Ben plays his 300th senior game for the Officer Football Club on Saturday against Beaconsfield at Holm Park Reserve. The seven-time best and fairest winner will join Rob Young, Mick Moylan and Kable Dowsett as the only players to achieve the milestone at the club.
“It’s a pretty special achievement I suppose,” Tivendale said. “I remember coming here when I was seven or eight years old and watching Robbie Young, he was a legend, and I got to play senior footy with him. I played a lot with Mick and a bit with Kable as well, so to reach a milestone that only three other blokes have achieved - I’m very proud of it. It’s a lot of footy to play, especially with the one club.”
Turn to page 23, the front of this week’s Footy Lift-Out, for the full story on Ben’s great achievement.
The pride of Officer – Ben Tivendale will play his 300th senior game against Beaconsfield on Saturday. 170798
Picture: ROB CAREW
Continued on page 3
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DR SAHAR SHIRKHANLOO 48 Van der Haar Avenue, Berwick, Also at Arena Shopping Centre, 26/4 Cardinia Road Officer. 1300SUNPATROL For all appointments.