THE new Bendigo Hospital continues to take shape with the first suspended concrete slab pour now underway.
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Bendigo Health chief executive John Mulder, Bendigo Health chairman Dr Michael Langdon, Member for Northern Victoria Damian Drum, site officials and the media toured the site on Thursday morning.
"Today's an important day on the project," Mr Mulder said.
"This is the start of the first pour for the first suspended slab.
"So we've been in the ground, we've poured part of the slab for the basement which is mainly the car parking and now we're up out of the ground.
"It's an exciting day.
"It's a bit like when you build your first house, build the first floor and now we're up on the first floor having a look around."
The project site is abuzz with activity with about 120 workers on site.
Between 250 to 300 workers are expected on site by the end of the year with the project set to generate 770 jobs during the construction phase.
About 132,000 tonnes of soil has been removed from the site with the final excavation work taking place at the Hope Street end where the finished level for the kitchen and cancer bunkers is now taking shape.
The concrete pour for the first floor has started at the Arnold Street side with about 33,000 cubic metres of concrete earmarked of the work.
Mr Mulder said the new Bendigo Hospital project was progressing well.
"It's been fantastic," he said.
"We've had no hick ups at all.
"The Lend Lease team tell us they're slightly ahead of schedule.
"It couldn't be running smoother - they're a great team, a very experienced team in the building game.
"We're sitting back and enjoying the show.
"We're getting a great view from across the road, watching it come up out of the ground."
We're getting a great view from across the road, watching it come up out of the ground.
- John Mulder
Mr Mulder welcomed Mr Drum's visit to the site.
"The government has been a great supporter of the project," he said.