$1b State injection will build ‘smart health economy’

A $1 billion injection into the Cairns Hospital Expansion will create a “smart health economy” activating the northern Esplanade, while creating a mega construction project that will anchor skilled labour to the Far North in the leadup to the Olympic Games in 2032.

The five-and-a-half-year investment in Stage 1 of the new Cairns Hospital master plan has been lauded by Advance Cairns for its vision, innovation and forward planning.

Advance Cairns CEO Jennifer Spilsbury, in congratulating the Health Minister Tim Nicholls and hospital CEO Leena Singh, said the master plan had thoughtfully and cleverly addressed the Far North’s many challenges while committing to providing state-of-the-art healthcare from Cairns to the rural and remote pockets of the region.

Within ageing infrastructure dedicated health providers have been working hard to care for a Far North population that has grown by 1.4% annually for the past 20 years. An added burden is a percentage of the more than 50,000 visitors every week who end up needing treatment at Cairns Hospital during their stay.

“This plan is setting up healthcare and education in the Far North for generations to come,” Ms Spilsbury said.

“This ‘smart health city’ within a city will attract and retain more specialists as well as bright sparks from home and further afield. Why wouldn’t they want to innovate, learn, live and play in the most beautiful city in Australia?”

Ms Spilsbury said the positive economic and social ripple effects would re-energise the northern CBD.

“All sorts of businesses, from allied health to grocers and transport providers, will be able to thrive off the health city economy with literally thousands more interacting with the precinct.”

Ms Spilsbury said it was critical skilled labour wasn’t sucked into the South-East corner of Queensland as work ramped up on building Olympic Games infrastructure.

“This is the type of major infrastructure project we need to ensure our tradies stay here.”

Work on the construction of Stage 1 including a new Health Innovation and Surgical Centre, health management hub, multi-storey staff car park, new rooftop helipad and expansion of support services is expected to start in late 2026 with completion in 2031.

Advance Cairns has lobbied tirelessly for greater healthcare services in the region with outgoing Chair Nick Trompf labelling the announcement as “historic”.

“It’s the single most significant social and economic announcement I’ve seen in the 25 years I’ve lived here and the 17 years I’ve been involved with Advance Cairns. It’s a day that will be looked back on that changed the course of healthcare for the region.”

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