Cudgen private health precinct proposed for Tweed Heads

A proposal has been launched to build new precinct featuring a university, private hospital and medical facilities in Tweed Heads. But developers will have some major hurdles to clear.

Developers behind a $250 million health precinct proposed to be built next to the Tweed Valley Hospital have been told the “reconsider” on the announcement of their plans.

Cudgen Connection has been proposed by joint partners Centuria Capital Group and Digital Infratech.

The development would include a new university campus, aged care facilities, essential worker housing, private hospital, medi-hotel, specialist and allied healthcare, rehab pool, gym, community hub, farmers’ market, eateries and an amphitheatre set in parklands on 5.7 hectares.

It is expected to create more than 1000 jobs.

The hub will also have a centre of excellence for koala research and work with not-for-profit organisations that focus on mental health and suicide prevention, along with showcasing farming and the arts.

But Tweed MP Geoff Provest said he was profusely against the development due to the farming zoning of the land.

“In the last election there was considerable concern about the loss of farm land,” Mr Provest said.

“I believe the hospital is important but I said I would not support further development, therefore I’m honouring my commitment.”

Tweed MP Geoff Provest said he will not be supporting a private health precinct on the proposed block. Picture: Nigel Hallett

He said there was other land 5 to 10 minutes away from the future hospital which was more appropriately zoned for the proposal.

“The last thing I want to see is acres of concrete,” he said.

Centuria Capital head of development Andre Bali said prior to announcement the company had undergone extensive research and believed the land was not suitable as strategic farmland due to its slope, soil, waterlogging.

He said the land didn’t fit the state’s own criteria for the zoning.

“It’s an anomaly in the planning controls,” Mr Bali said.

He said the block was the most suited to the proposal which would allow public and private health to work together.

The block of land at 741 Cudgen Rd, Cudgen, was purchased in October 2021 for $5 million by Cudgen Health Precinct Pty Ltd.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show the company is directed by Sydney residents Simon Wellesley Holt, 44, Jason Christopher Huljich, 47 and Digital Infratech director Allan Larkin, of Brisbane.

Centuria Capital is listed as a holding company for the venture.

Mr Larkin said polling was done prior to the announcement and found affordable housing for essential workers and the number of people living in the Tweed but not working locally were key issues they were hoping to address with the development.

“Sitting back and accepting the norm is just not suitable, it’s just not practical and it will not address the challenges the region is facing,” Mr Larkin said.

“The world has changed more in the last two years than the last 50 years.”

Mr Larkin said the plan would be similar to the Bloomfield private health precinct in Orange, by the same developers, where they have teamed with Charles Sturt University to educate in medicine and allied health.

He hoped the university campus planned in Tweed would function similarly and could pair with Southern Cross University.

However the development, if approved, is years off with the developers now keen to hear community feedback over the next six months.

No development application has been lodged.

When asked when the development was projected to start, Mr Larkin said “we aren’t nailing anything to the calendar”.

 Tweed Shire Council Mayor Chris Cherry said she was concerned the developer could be trying to “steamroll” the project without talking to the community first.

“The issue is this is a great proposal in the wrong location,” she said.

She suggested the existing Tweed Hospital site might be more appropriate.

To provide feedback on the proposal click here.