Construction has begun on the new $8.3 million Sunbury Integrated Care Centre on the old Sunbury Primary School site in Macedon Street.

Health Minister John Thwaites turned the first sod of the centre, which is due for completion by the end of the year.

The new centre will replace the Sunbury Community Health Centre, offering a range of new health services including physiotherapy and dentistry.

The Sunbury Community Health Service was established in 1979 with a staff of four.

‘The staff have been doing an excellent job over many years in premises which are no longer big enough or suitable for its expanded role,’ Mr Thwaites said.

‘The purchase of the former school will provide an easily-accessible site in the middle of Sunbury with plenty of scope for future expansion.’

Once the new facility is up and running the Sunbury Community Health Centre building will be sold with proceeds helping to fund the new centre.

Sunbury Community Health Centre Chief Executive Officer Ros Stevens said when the centre is completed, the local community would have access to many new services including occupational therapy, podiatry, psychology, dentistry and resource liaison, as well as a disability service.

Department of Human Services’ Northern Metropolitan Region’s Housing, Primary and Complex Care Manager Francene McCartin said the project consultants had worked closely with staff and local government to ensure the facility met both staff and community needs.

In particular, the historic schoolhouse has been incorporated as a feature of the building’s design.