Crane at hospital redevelopment named after local icon

As the second phase of the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment gets underway, the first tower crane at the site has been named in honour of a local icon.

Called ‘Maureen the Crane’, the structure was named after longstanding volunteer Maureen Woodford, who has welcomed patients and families at the Ballarat Intergrated Cancer Centre for nearly 15 years.

The 43-metre crane will help construct the hospital’s new energy plant support services building.

Construction of stage two is expected to be completed late next year, with the redevelopment allowing the hospital to treat an extra 18,000 more emergency patients and 14,500 inpatients per year when it’s completed in 2027.