The building – attached to the GP Superclinic – houses a rehabilitation pool, gym and 12 new consulting rooms for GPs, physiotherapists and allied health staff. 

The community raised $900,000 to get the project finished, after taking a series of “risks” including buying the land on which to build the centre, Ballan Health board president Lyn Gunnell said.

“It’s huge, rehabilitation, getting people back to their homes, back to work, not having to travel into Ballarat (for treatment),” she said. 

The project is the result of years of lobbying and community fund-raising, Ms Gunnell said, which resulted in $3.3 million from the federal government. 

Ballarat MP and opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King said the facility would be a boost for Ballan. 

“The project will see the expansion of medical, preventative health and chronic care services in the region and it is a big win for the people of Ballan,” she said.

Senator Michael Ronaldson, who attended the opening ceremony on Monday, said it was a testament to the work of a group of passionate people. 

“It’s always been a community-driven facility, with lots of volunteers, lots of people who are very passionate about it and boards that have been prepared to take risks to deliver good things,” he said.