Toowoomba Hospital at Baillie Henderson site funded in 2022-23 Qld state budget, completion by 2027

Toowoomba’s health sector was not the only big winner from the most recent state budget. Check out a full list of what projects got funding from the government.

Toowoomba is officially getting its new hospital, with the state government finally including the $1.3bn project in its latest budget to have it open for patients in 2027.

In news that has been celebrated across the Darling Downs, Treasurer Cameron Dick announced on Tuesday that Toowoomba would be included in what he called the largest hospital-building program in Queensland history.

Funding is reportedly included in this financial year for a range of preliminary works and finishing touches to the detailed design.

It comes after years of advocacy from The Chronicle and the Garden City’s political and economic leaders, following the designation of the Baillie Henderson site as the preferred spot for a new hospital in 2017.

Artist impressions of the new Toowoomba Hospital at the site of the old Baillie Henderson Hospital site. Photo: Supplied.

Mr Dick said the new hospital would have about 110 more beds than the current site on Pechey Street.

“This budget includes $9.8bn to expand the capacity of Queensland’s health system, the biggest hospital building program in the history of Queensland,” he said in his budget address.

“That commitment will deliver 2200 additional overnight hospital beds. There will be new hospitals in Bundaberg, Toowoomba and at Coomera.”

Health services across the region were a major winner in the budget, with Darling Downs Health to receive $1.2bn in funding for its operational services and capital works projects.

Both the current hospital and Baillie Henderson will receive $49m for a number of upgrade projects, including a new day surgery.

Darling Downs Health and Hospital Service chairman Mike Horan. Picture: Dominic Elsome

Darling Downs Health chairman Mike Horan said he was thrilled with the announcement, saying the construction would take five years to complete.

“We’re absolutely delighted with it — we’ve done a lot of discussions with cabinet and we’re delighted it’s been announced,” he said.

“We’ll be able to start it in this financial year, so we’re going through the budget papers to find out the amount we’ve got in this budget.

“$20m will be approximately the early earthworks, electrical works, road works and there’s a small amount to complete the detailed design.

“It’s in line with the proposal we put to the cabinet. This will be wonderful for the Darling Downs.”

Toowoomba resident Tess Carr, who is a frequent user of the current hospital, said funding for a new precinct would improve her family’s wellbeing.

“I have a child who is disabled, and it’s a big help for the whole community (to see it funded),” she said.

INDUSTRY FIGURES WELCOME FUNDING

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ali Davenport said she was excited by the outcomes of a new hospital for the city.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ali Davenport.

“This is a very exciting day and we’re thrilled the Queensland Government is investing in health for our region,” she said.

“We’re desperate, our health system is at breaking point and our staff are doing a fantastic job already so this is an exciting day.

“The exciting thing about a new hospital is the chance to attract the best health staff — when you get the latest technology, you get really great people, because people want to work with the best tech.”

Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl called the announcement a “major step forward” for the region’s health services.

“We can’t ask for much more — we need to thank and congratulate the treasurer for listening to the Toowoomba community and the Toowoomba business community,” he said.

“It’s a major step forward (now) we want them to get moving soon and what we need to do is keep our eyes firmly focused on it moving in the right direction.”

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki and Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts.

LOCAL MPS RESPOND TO HOSPITAL

Opposition treasury spokesman and Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki said the announcement of the hospital was a “glimmer of hope” that still contained too many unanswered questions.

“There’s a glimmer of hope with the new hospital headline announcement but there remains uncertainty as to when it will be built,” he said.

“$20m is a start but there is no clarity on when real construction will actually commence or conclude.”

Mr Janetzki also took issue at the lack of funding again for a second road to Highfields.

“The importance of the second connector between Highfields and Westbrook has been sadly overlooked again,” he said.

Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts was far more scathing, saying he was left disappointed by how little had been allocated to the hospital in the coming financial year.

“After spending so much time on the red carpet, you’d think they’d be able to come up with more than one per cent funding for our hospital,” he said.

“$20m is not going to get much of hospital’s work done and there are people ramped up at our hospital this week who deserve better health services than that.”

REGION’S BIG BUDGET WINNERS REVEALED

Schools, escarpment parks, renewable energy and roads are some of the biggest winners in the state budget across the Darling Downs and southwest Queensland, with the government planning to spend more than $820m on infrastructure in the area.

Pittsworth, Clifton, Tara, St George, Dalby, Roma and Toowoomba (West Special School) are among the schools that will enjoy a share of nearly $60m in new works.

Meanwhile, the government has also promised $68m in this budget for the Wambo wind farm near Dalby, $37m for a new 100-megawatt battery at Chinchilla, $8.6m for towards the Kogan renewable hydrogen project and $17m for the Karara wind farm near Warwick.

Closer to home, parks on the Toowoomba escarpment will be upgraded by $1.1m as part of the Building our Regions program, while the council will receive $800,000 towards its ongoing refresh of Russell Street in the Toowoomba CBD.

The freight and logistics hub InterlinkSQ, which will interact with the Inland Rail, received $8.1m this year towards its construction.

A number of emergency service stations across the Darling Downs have also been funded in the budget, including nearly $10m towards the upgrade of the Dalby police facility, $1m for the Warwick police station as well as $100,000 to start work on replacing the existing Drayton fire station building.

The New England Highway between Toowoomba and Warwick ($8.5m) and the Gore Highway between Millmerran and Pittsworth ($6.7m) will also be upgraded.

OUR SAY: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER ON HOSPITAL

Tom Gillespie

It might have arrived a fair bit later than we would’ve liked, or more accurately needed, but Toowoomba is finally going to get its new hospital.

The state government’s inclusion of the $1.3bn Baillie Henderson proposal in the budget this week as part of its capacity expansion program is a welcome sign and Labor deserves bouquets for finally listening to this community and finally delivering us a timeline for the precinct.

It ensures key stakeholders like Darling Downs Health, the Toowoomba Regional Council and the business community can start planning for this eventual future and capture all the opportunities it presents.

Remember, we’re not talking about a like-for-like replacement of the existing hospital — the concept at Baillie Henderson is a massive sprawling health precinct that would capture primary and secondary health needs, allied services and secondary supports.

Not only would it supercharge our region’s biggest employer, but it would open us up to industries we’ve never had before.

This is truly exciting if the vision can be executed by the state government in consultation with the health sector.

A new Toowoomba Hospital has been at the top of every community leader’s agenda for this city over several years, including at The Chronicle.

We’re not shy about gunning for the needs of our community and we’re proud to see our region’s advocacy has been listened to.

We’ve heard the constant stories from patients, staff and administrators of the challenges they face dealing with the current outdated infrastructure.

There are plenty of questions still to be answered, but right now it’s fantastic to see the Toowoomba Hospital project finally on the table after many years.

Originally published as Toowoomba Hospital at Baillie Henderson site funded in 2022-23 Qld state budget, completion by 2027