Bendigo Health has asked the federal government and its Labor opposition for funds to demolish two towers that do not comply with fire safety standards. 

The Bendigo Advertiser reported last month the two Anne Caudle Centre buildings, erected in 1958 and 1972, could not comply with safety regulations introduced in 2012. 

The buildings house dental and rehabilitation services, including a 60-bed ward, and administrative, financial and IT departments. 

Bendigo Health has confirmed it is seeking a commitment from both major parties to fund plans for the buildings, which include shifting services onto the newly built site, demolishing the towers and landscaping the ground underneath. 

The new facility, situated behind the two buildings, is scheduled to open in late January.

Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters proposed a capital works fund for ambulatory care facilities scrapped in former Treasurer Joe Hockey’s 2014-15 budget be reinstated and used for the project’s next stage.  

She said relocation of the buildings’ services to the new hospital and rejuvenation of the space they occupied would create “a centre of health excellence” in Bendigo.

“Ballarat has one, Geelong has one, and Bendigo has always been in the plan,” she said.  

“Three years ago, I would’ve been able to say ‘there’s this fund’, but it’s been scrapped.

“It would be a terrific co-location opportunity for Bendigo health services.”

In March, Bendigo Health chief executive John Mulder says the buildings are not dangerous and their continued use is not compromising safety. 

“I wouldn’t be running services out of the building if I thought patients or staff were at risk of being harmed,” he said.

He said the complete site would be “one of Bendigo’s greatest assets”.