Construction underway on $340 million public health facility

Construction has begun on a state-of-the-art public health facility as part of the $1.1billion Herston Quarter redevelopment.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited the site today where work is underway on the $340 million facility.

“The new centre will deliver specialist, rehabilitation surgery and care which will help free up hospital beds,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“That’s good news for Queensland’s largest hospital, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, located right next door.

“This centre will be the first health building to be built as part of the $1.1 billion Herston Quarter redevelopment.

“Investing in great, public healthcare is a cornerstone of the State Budget handed down on Tuesday.

“I’m pleased to announce that an additional 50 beds will be available as a result of the careful design of clinical spaces to bring the total capacity to 184 beds to provide care for more patients and also reduce waiting lists.”

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said declaring the Herston Quarter a Priority Development Area (PDA) had enabled the accelerated development of this landmark health and knowledge precinct.

“As with the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge precinct, the Herston Quarter precinct will complement the specialised health, research and innovation activities of the adjacent health and knowledge facilities,” Mr Dick said.

“Herston Quarter will be home to some of Australia’s brightest minds in the health and research sectors for generations to come.”

“Renewal of the Herston Quarter is a prime example of the Queensland Government’s Advancing Our Cities and Regions Strategy generating jobs and growth by unlocking the potential of the underutilised government-owned land.”

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Steven Miles said the Herston Quarter will care for patients recovering from brain injury, trauma, stroke, burns and a range of medical conditions.

“The centre will also provide short-stay elective surgery and endoscopy as well as various outpatient services and boast seven operating theatres, three endoscopy procedure rooms and consultation spaces for a range of specialties,” Mr Miles said.

“This facility will become a world class facility supporting 900 clinical and non-clinical jobs.”

Member for McConnel Grace Grace MP said that this is another important milestone for Herston Quarter and government and the private sector working together to deliver health infrastructure.

“The Herston Quarter will be another great addition to the collaborative work in health, education and research already being delivered on the Herston Health Precinct,” Ms Grace said.

Metro North Hospital and Health Service Board Member Geoff Hardy said the Herston Quarter will complement the quality care provided at RBWH.

“Over the next 10 years, Herston Quarter will be redeveloped into a world-class health and wellbeing precinct where Australia’s brightest minds can live and work onsite to further health, education and research for Queenslanders,” Mr Hardy said.

Australian Unity Group Managing Director and CEO Rohan Mead said the development of the Herston Quarter will be funded by private capital funding through Australian Unity’s Healthcare Property Trust, which invests in healthcare infrastructure for Australian communities.

“This will be the first public health facility in Australia paid for by private investors in a real estate investment structure.” Mr Mead said.

Construction of the Herston Quarter on Herston Road, and the adjacent public realm, is expected to be completed by the end of 2020. The nine-level public health facility will generate approximately 250 construction jobs. Once the Herston Quarter is operational, it will support approximately 900 clinical and non-clinical jobs.