A community bank has promised $750,000 to help deliver long-awaited upgrades to Daylesford Hospital in western Victoria.
The pledge from Daylesford District Community Bank is conditional on the Victorian government committing $75 million to redevelop the 160-year-old hospital.
Daylesford Hospital Upgrade Appeal committee chair and Hepburn Shire councillor, Lesley Hewitt, said the bank's funding would be delivered over 10 years.
"It's so significant that they're prepared to put in $750,000, because this is what the community wants and needs," she said.
"We're so grateful and so pleased."
Cr Hewitt said this funding could help bring to life the $75 million Daylesford Health Precinct master plan.
Infrastructure detailed in the plan includes new wards, improved disability access, and upgraded and expanded aged care.
To date, the wider community's contributions to the project have totalled more than $125,000.
Earlier this month Opposition Leader Matthew Guy announced the Victorian Coalition would re-prioritise $75 million in funding from the government's $35 billion Suburban Rail Loop stage one to deliver the Daylesford Hospital upgrades.
The state government is yet to commit any funding to deliver the master plan.
Cr Hewitt said the committee remained hopeful the government would match the opposition's pledge, but was becoming increasingly frustrated as November's state election edged closer.
"We've had wet weather, and on Tuesday I understand the hospital roof was leaking," she said.
"I don't understand how in 2022 we have a hospital facility ... where the staff is great, the services are terrific ... that has a roof that leaks in poor weather.
"If that's not an indication that the hospital precinct needs upgrading, I don't know what is."
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas did not directly respond to the ABC's request for comment.
In a statement, a state government spokesperson said its $4.5 million investment to upgrade the hospital's operating theatre would "ensure locals get the care they need close to home".
That funding was announced in October 2021 as part of the government's Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.
Political will there as state election nears
The fresh funding pledge comes a day after a tense back-and-forth between the state government and opposition over funding for regional hospitals.
Yesterday Ms Thomas accused the Coalition of slashing more than $5 billion from projects, including Daylesford Hospital.
Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier hit back, calling the health minister's comments a "desperate stunt".
Cr Hewitt said the debating was a sign of "political will" for the Daylesford project.
"Where there's a political will, then money can be made available," she said.
