Rural township of Tara to receive new hospital, with mental health and outreach facilities available

Just six weeks after a deadly shooting, a rural town near Dalby has been given the green light for a new state-of-the-art hospital, with mental health and outreach services available.

Adult mental health and additional outreach services will be addressed after it was announced millions would be allocated to a new rural hospital.

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Yvette D’Ath on Monday afternoon announced Tara was one of several rural and remote Queensland locations that would receive a state-of-the-art health facility in coming years.

“Tara’s new hospital will include more contemporary clinical places to improve the patient and staff experience,” Ms D’Ath said.

“The new facility will continue to provide emergency and palliative care and will include a 12-bed inpatient unit as well as adult mental health, clinical services, and other outreach services.”

Part of the Government’s $1.038bn program to replace ageing facilities, the new facility will be built on the existing hospital’s site on Bilton St, with completion estimated for late 2024.

Upon the unveiling of the new facility, the old hospital will be demolished.

Ms D’Ath said the project, which would be tendered in the coming months, would support around 46 local jobs, and see the town’s bed availabilities increase from eight to 12.

Darling Downs Health chief executive Annette Scott PSM said the announcement was “incredibly important” for the rural township.

Tara is one of three Darling Downs locations to receive funding for a new hospital since June 2022.

The announcement comes six weeks after two police officers and a concerned neighbour were gunned down near Tara, and just a week after four teens were arrested for allegedly firing shots in the town.

Originally published as Rural township of Tara to receive new hospital, with mental health and outreach facilities available