Gold Coast’s South East Operations Centre and triple-0 hub opens in Coomera

The state government has officially opened a purpose-built facility set to significantly boost triple-0 call capacity across Queensland.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls unveiled the Gold Coast’s South East Operations Centre on Wednesday, delivering purpose built accommodation for those who take triple-0 calls across the state.

The new $23.4m facility comes as the region saw the largest single daily number of phone calls to triple-0 for ambulance services at 4250 on Monday as south east Queensland grappled with soaring temperatures.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls on the Gold Coast at Queensland Ambulance Services, South East Operations Centre in Coomera. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“On Sunday night we had the tremendous hailstorm that caused so much damage and then on the Monday those furnace like conditions of up to 39 and 40 degrees,” Minister Nicholls said.

“This just goes just goes to reinforce how much we need services like this to be able to be delivered throughout the state.”

Part of a $33.1 billion state health budget for 2025 and 2026 the facility opened six weeks ago, but officially opened Wednesday to provide more desks, and the capacity for more people to answer triple-0 calls from anywhere in Queensland.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls on the Gold Coast at Queensland Ambulance Services, South East Operations Centre in Coomera. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“This purpose built facility at Coomera is able to deliver services to the Gold Coast predominantly, but also has the capacity to take calls from across the state,” Minister Nicholls said.

“This is a tremendous outcome and a tremendous indication of the investment that’s being made and that we continue to make as part of our health budget – including a $1 billion investment into the Queensland Ambulance Services to deliver more paramedics and more equipment, and more stations to enable us to deliver those services across Queensland.”

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls on the Gold Coast at Queensland Ambulance Services, South East Operations Centre in Coomera. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The operations centre has a staff capacity of 120 and 50 desks – more than double the previous site in Southport.

During Wednesday’s press conference, Mr Nicholls was also peppered with questions about his government’s controversial puberty blockers ban and the failed appointment of Krispin Hajkowicz as chief health officer.