Golden age: Restrictions stunt growth of local health sector

THE Gold Coast health sector is forecast to be one of the largest employers in the city in the next decade — but to grow it needs room move.

THE health sector is forecast to be one of the largest employers on the Gold Coast in the next decade and it needs room to stretch its legs.

Britt Caling, who has Gold Coast physio and sports clinics in Burleigh and Runaway Bay, employing 36 people, said zoning restrictions for new business and narrow nationwide advertising boundaries were hamstrings for the industry.

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Commonwealth Gold medallist Elijah Winnington with Gold Coast Physio & Sports Health director Britt Caling. Photo: Supplied

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“One of our biggest challenges for council is to be really mindful of our zoning restrictions,” Ms Caling said.

“The requirements around medical zoning on the Gold Coast, especially parking and access requirements makes it really hard to find the right space.

“We are all different with different needs but come under the same banner.”

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For example, Ms Caling said a physio or radiographer may have different volumes of traffic and appointment times to a GP, but were classified the same.

“It is really challenging for us to find spaces which we are allowed to occupy. It is a costly process.

Britt Caling says the Gold Coast population is active and health conscious.

“If we are trying to attract more medical businesses here, or to get the existing ones to grow, the process needs to be made as easy as possible.”

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Ms Caling also said navigating complicated advertising restrictions had the potential to stunt opportunity.

“We also have a number of restrictions on professional advertising, that is nationally regulated.

“As a business we are very much bound by different conditions, which could be tough for those new to the market to navigate,” she said.