First look: Massive health precinct and hospital planned on northern koala site

Planning details have surfaced for the first time showing the massive new health precinct planned for Coomera on the northern Gold Coast. SEE THE PLANS >>>

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THE state government is planning a massive health precinct and hospital in koala territory in the city’s north.

Planning details for the first time show the Coomera health precinct will include an “ambulatory care centre” on a 14,000sq m site and the significantly larger Coomera Hospital on a 225,000sq m area “with associated road infrastructure and multi-storey car parking”.

The Bulletin has long pushed for a major health precinct in the fast-growing north.

However, details such as bed numbers are yet to be released, the project will significantly erode koala habitat and will take at least six years to build.

Master plan documents 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.

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

● Gold Coast Health undertook the master-planning 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.

“Despite this, given the scale of the impact area that will result in the likely loss of approximately 10ha of koala habitat, the impact of the action is not deemed to be significant in terms of adversely affecting habitat critical to the survival of the koala,” the report says.

Artist impression of one stage of the Coomera Hospital and Health Precinct proposed by the State Government

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Consultants said timelines for construction have not yet been identified and would depend on the results of the planning and options analysis.

The plans comes after the Opposition described the two satellite health projects – the other is at Tugun in the south – as “GP super clinics” or “ghost hospitals”.

Stage 1 is tentatively expected to start in 2022 and take about five years to build.

Residents concerned about the lack of health services plan to attend a sell-out town hall meeting at the Pimpama Tavern at 10am Tuesday.