Council approves Indigenous Wellbeing Centre Bundaberg expansion but funding is needed

The council has green-lighted the multi-million expansion of this Bundaberg health centre. But there’s one more hurdle to jump before building begins.

A multimillion dollar expansion for a major Bundaberg medical complex is off to a healthy start, having gained council approval.

Now, State and Federal funding is needed to help bring the $3.2million expansion, which according to the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre, will provide “vital services that directly meet the needs of a region of high disadvantage”, to life.

The local organisation at the front of the region’s health challenges confirmed it had received the green light from council to further expand its Bundaberg Health and Wellbeing Complex by almost 500 sqm.

IWC CEO Wayne Mulvany said the team saw first-hand the gaps that were opening up under the pressure of the pandemic.

Since Covid hit , the centre has taken on more GPs, expanded mental health services and added occupational therapy, speech pathology and a second physiotherapist.

Despite these steps, Mr Mulvany said services remained stretched ‘across the board’ because the centre was carrying the brunt of the massively escalating public demand.

“We need the space to expand,” he said

“As soon as we can secure Federal and/or State government funding support for the project, we can move.

“It is ‘shovel ready’ and this project could be completed very quickly.

“It would be a big relief to the community, which is asking us for more help than ever during this ongoing pandemic crisis.”

The work of the IWC complex also alleviates pressure on Bundaberg Hospital’s Emergency Department and beds by providing the ongoing care that helps people in the community manage their health and wellbeing.

Mr Mulvany said the expansion would be in keeping with the rest of the complex, which has won multiple awards for design and construction, and would create a single level of office/community space stretching out from the current building.

“The single level will be on pillars so as to provide undercover public car parking underneath, and we also have cleared a previously purchased site next door to add further parking spaces that will bring IWC well above the required quota for the size of the Complex,” he said.

“IWC has committed significant amounts of money over the years to bringing the complex to its current position, and the support of government for this project is vital,” he said.

“With the financial imposts being faced by IWC during Covid, we cannot afford to go it alone to bring the expansion to fruition.”

IWC Bundaberg is located at 184 Barolin St, Bundaberg Central.