Work starts on $8m Gympie Hospital accommodation

The struggle to attract health workers to Gympie is getting a boost with work starting on a $8million accommodation facility adjacent to the public hospital.

The struggle to attract health workers to the Gympie region is getting a boost with work starting work on a new $8million accommodation facility adjacent to the Gympie Hospital.

The Henry St development will include 24 beds, a laundry and kitchen, a Qld Health spokeswoman said.

It will provide short-term housing for medical and nursing staff, and is being built across the road from the hospital on land that provided multiple car parks.

A 36-lot car park has been cut off as a result of the construction, but it is understood 70 new parking spots will be opened to the public on Friday.

Work including asbestos removal from an existing building has started at the site, with plans to have the accommodation open by the end of 2023.

The accommodation is considered public housing and sources say it did not require development approval under the Gympie Regional Council’s planning laws.

It comes as the region continues to grapple with a wider housing crises, with experts saying in August 2022 more than 70 people were seeking help each month.

Major expansion for popular Rainbow Beach caravan park

A 36-lot car park has been cut off as a result of the construction works on the new $8 million Gympie Hospital staff accommodation project, but 70 new parking spaces for visitors are expected to open on Friday.

The future of the public hospital has been a political battleground in recent years, with Gympie LNP MP Tony Perrett agitating for the state government to build a new facility.

Sunshine Coast Health senior infrastructure director Andrew Leggate said the new accommodation buildings would be “very efficient for staff”.

“This accommodation will provide an improved experience for staff and being so close the operations of the hospital, it will also be very efficient for staff staying in the accommodation,” he said.

Gympie Hospital nursing director Deanne Mitchell said the housing would be key to keeping the region’s health services moving forward.

“The existing staff accommodation facilities at Gympie Hospital has served our staff well but we’re looking forward to this new infrastructure,” Ms Mitchell said.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said it would “help us to attract and retain vital health staff in the growing Gympie region”.

The centre is being built as part of the health department’s Building Rural and Remote Health program.