Tensions flare over claim GV Health revamp won't be finished until 2035

“Jenny Mikakos has let the cat out of the bag by confirming that under a Labor government the redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health will take a minimum of 20 years and will not be completed until 2035 at the earliest,” she said.

Ms Lovell said she would add the completion of the hospital upgrade to a growing list of projects that were underfunded or would not be funded in the Shepparton region.

“The minister’s startling admission that the redevelopment will take a minimum of 20 years to complete proves that Daniel Andrews cares little for the health needs of the Goulburn Valley,” she said.

However, Ms Mikakos hit back and said it was grossly misleading to say the redevelopment would take 20 years, as master-planning was always long-term and extended beyond stage one and two of the project.

“These are just Liberal lies by a local member who has delivered nothing for patients in Shepparton,” Ms Mikakos said.

This year's state budget allocated $2 million towards the planning of stage two of the hospital's redevelopment.

Ms Mikakos said master-planning should always take into account the long-term health needs of local communities.

“Getting the planning right is an important first step when it comes to hospital redevelopments — and that’s exactly what we’re doing, with planning money for stage two of the Shepparton Hospital redevelopment in this year’s budget,” she said.

“The Liberal Nationals don’t know what work goes into building a hospital because they didn’t build them.”

GV Health chief executive Matt Sharp said the hospital was continuing to work with the state government and that stage one of the redevelopment would be progressed through a locality and service plan, which would be updated in coming months in consultation with the government.

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