Victorian Coalition behind creation of new Albury-Wodonga regional hospital

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said in Wodonga on Thursday the border's health service needs were suffering due to inaction and uncertainty stemming from the delayed release of a master-plan outlining required infrastructure needs.

The state Liberal leader said the NSW and federal governments stood ready to play their part, but the absence of a clearly articulated plan on whether the present Albury and Wodonga hospitals would be upgraded or a greenfield facility built meant talks on any funding commitment were stalled.

"Victoria needs to start talking to the NSW and federal governments rather than constantly fighting with them," Mr Guy said.

"We are only going to solve this issue on the border if they all work together.

"What we want to do is give certainty and clarity to the community.

"What's it going to be, what's it going to look like, how we are going to do it."

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Mr Guy said the Coalition would back any master-plan recommendation on where a new hospital should be built.

The NSW government has paid for the $300,000 master-planning work with consultants appointed in July, but there is no firm commitment to the report being released before Christmas.

Mr Guy also called on the Andrews Labor government to confirm its commitment to the Albury-Wodonga Regional Deal, which has a new hospital as a major priority, and also speed up planning work it is doing on the McKoy Street intersection.

The Victorian government announced earlier this year planning works would not be completed until next year with the Coalition fearing the delays will be used against it in the upcoming federal election.

The Morrison federal government has committed $168,000 to the works.

"If this project was in Melbourne it would be well underway by now," Mr Guy said.

"It's a recurring theme that we get out of Shepparton, we get out of here.

"If there is a project in Melbourne the state government is willing to front up.

"The regions are genuinely sick to death of being treated like second class citizens."

The Victorian government was contacted for comment.

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