Mystery over when Coomera Hospital and health precinct will open

When a new hospital for the Gold Coast’s fast-growing north will open its doors remains a mystery, as the city’s emergency departments continue to struggle with demand.

WHEN a new hospital for the Gold Coast’s fast-growing north will open its doors remains a mystery, as the city’s emergency departments continue to struggle with demand.

The Coomera Hospital and surrounding health precinct was first promised by the state government in 2020 as part of a $160m election commitment.

Three million dollars was set aside for a preliminary business case in the 2021 budget. Earlier master plan documents predicted a build time of six years once a final business case had been completed.

The Bulletin asked Health Minister Yvette D’Ath to confirm whether a time frame had been set for a hospital business case to be developed, and what year the hospital was expected to be open and operational.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath. Picture: Evan Morgan

Coomera MP Michael Crandon.

Ms D’Ath said in a statement: “The preliminary business case for the Coomera Hospital and Health Precinct is complete.

“As with the normal process, the project will progress to the next phase of having a detailed business case developed. This will include identifying the necessary funding and the time frame for delivery.”

In answer to a question submitted to parliament by Coomera MP Michael Crandon, Ms D’Ath said: “The department will allocate the required funding to implement and complete (a dedicated business case).

“This rigorous process ensures Queensland Health delivers the right services to the right people in the right locations both now and into the future.

“It is important to note, when delivering capital infrastructure, particularly on this scale and with this complexity, planning is never fully complete as it allows for a project to be agile and employ continuous improvement practices.”

A Bulletin investigation in 2019 revealed there were just 1000 beds shared across Gold Coast University Hospital and Robina Hospital, 500 fewer beds than the national average.

More than six months before the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in the city for the first time, the state government revealed 10 hospitals in southeast Queensland were at capacity and unable to serve an “unprecedented” number of patients coming in”.

Bulletin reports in November last year also uncovered a satellite hospital promised for Tugun would have no overnight beds or emergency department.

The 2259sq m facility – expected to open in 2023 – will focus on early intervention and day therapy.

Mr Crandon said the Coomera Hospital and health precinct needed to be fast-tracked to keep it from opening already at capacity.

“They’ve owned the place for 20 years, we’ve seen the growth in that area for 15 years,” he said.

“What bigger priority is there than the fastest growing region in Queensland? There are more than 50,000 voters on my registry. The average is under 38,000.

“It’s the epitome of poor planning.

“There’s still only $3 million on the table (for the preliminary business case) and there’s still no other committed funds.

“They really do have to crack on now with the ramping we’re seeing, the lack of beds, with the Australian Medical Association saying we’re 2000 beds short in Queensland.

“There’s every possibility of opening at capacity.”

Master plan documents obtained by the Bulletin in July 2021 show two 12-level hospital buildings, a seven-level clinical services block, two five-level car parks, a five-level facility centre and seven-level clinical services building.

By comparison, the 750-bed Gold Coast University Hospital has a total floor space of about 175,000sq m — the same size as 25 football fields.

Environmental reports by Planit Consulting on the site at 41 George Alexander Way show:

*Gold Coast Health undertook the masterplanning process due to high population growth.

*The ambulatory care health precinct includes home-based programs such as chemotherapy and renal dialysis, space for community mental health services and a minor injuries clinic.

*An “acute hospital” will provide emergency, medical, surgical, childrens, maternity and supporting services on site covering 13.5ha.

*Operational approvals will be needed for earthworks and vegetation clearing, with about 11.13ha of remnant vegetation removed impacting on wildlife.

*Four koalas were spotted in field surveys and clearing for development would result in the removal of critical bushland, but federal agency referral was not considered necessary.

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