JCU unveils plans for Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre
First look at spectacular digitally-created images detailing plans for JCU’s ‘game changing’ $50m Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre. Check out the artist impressions.
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Following months of silence, James Cook University has revealed exactly what the institution’s new health building could look like with the release of spectacular digitally-created images of the proposed Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre.
Designed by Wilson Architects, in collaboration with local firm Clark and Prince Architects, the four-storey building will be built on Charles St.
Featuring wooden design elements, the building will become a workplace for clinicians and medical teachers who will operate from a ground floor clinic and doctors studying to be specialist general practitioners will occupy upper floors, where research labs will also be located.
The building will also provide facilities for clinical skills training, as well as teaching and medical research, nursing, allied health and a broad range of related disciplines.
James Cook University vice chancellor professor Simon Biggs, at an unveiling of the designs, outlined a rough timeline on the project.
“Ideally, I’d like it to be tomorrow but we’ve got to be realistic,” he said.
“Hopefully it will be (open) late next year or early the following year (when) we’d like to have full occupancy and really see the building humming along.”
In 2021 an in principle agreement was reached between the Queensland government, JCU and the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service to resolve land tenure tension when the university swooped in to acquire the large tract of land bordered by Sheridan, Digger, Charles and Grove streets for $10m.
It’s understood divesting of land to accommodate Cairns Hospital’s planned 32 bed surgical centre was a not-for-profit arrangement.
In terms of JCU’s shaky financial position, which required the axing of 145 jobs last year, Mr Biggs said Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre was not immediately expected to deliver greater profitability for the institution.
“The building of a building in itself never gets you out of a financial hole,” he said.
“But, it’s part of us delivering on our remit to provide high quality education and training (and) to provide the workforce of the future for this region.”
The overall value of the Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre is estimated at $50m.
CHHHS chief executive Leena Singh described the new facility as a “game-changer” in terms of attracting senior clinicians to Cairns.
“Senior clinicians (or) clinicians with a lot of experience, what they look for is opportunities to be able to do some research beyond their clinical practice,” she said.
“This actually takes (medical research) to that next level, and what it does do is, it’s an attractor for all our clinicians whether it’s our nurses or doctors and our allied health staff.”
A proposed new Queensland Health state-of-the-art surgical centre will be co-located at the site to form part of the Far North Queensland Health Innovation Precinct.
The centre will form part of a $250m Cairns Hosptial expansion, which will deliver a total of 96 beds.
Ms Singh said the $250m expansion project announced during the Cairns sitting of cabinet in May was still in the detailed design phase.
“We expect some in-ground works to start later in the year (and) we’re expecting it to be completed early 2026,” she said.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said for the city to boast a tertiary grade medical facility was “great” for the region.
“It really is another step in the progression to becoming a more recognised major city,” he said.
Stage one of a CTEC two-stage managing contract has been awarded to BESIX Watpac now on the hunt for subcontractors who will kick off early works.
Stage two will be awarded in early August following community consultation on the Far North Queensland Health and Innovation Precinct to begin on Friday.
An estimated 150 jobs will be created during construction of the $50m project.
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Originally published as JCU unveils plans for Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre
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