Land deal done to lock in Cairns University Hospital site

Urgent negotiations have shored up a land deal that has locked in the site of a proposed Cairns University Hospital extension – but the future of an iconic landmark is still a mystery.

URGENT negotiations have shored up a land deal that has locked in the site of a proposed Cairns University Hospital.

A decision on Wednesday guaranteed Cairns will become home to a University Hospital after the signing of a historic agreement reached between the state government and James Cook University.

Two weeks ago Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, on a visit to Cairns, issued a stern ultimatum demanding JCU agree to release several valuable parcels after the university signed a $10m deal to buy a 12,331sq m site bounded by Sheridan, Grove, Charles and Digger streets.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced last year $52.9 million in funding for the Cairns Hospital, which includes $1.5 for a business study into a tertiary training partnership with James Cook University. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

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On Thursday the Premier was relieved the critical health precinct had been finalised after months of delay.

“I’m so pleased we have a site locked in, land ready and everyone is now working on delivering this major asset for the region sooner rather than later,” she said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles – tasked with ensuring a deal was reached – said after a meeting on Wednesday all key parties agreed on the best site for the precinct.

“The (project) will proceed on a Cairns CBD block … in the heart of the CBD and conveniently located near the hospital,” he said.

The land for a university hospital at the corner on Charles and Sheridan Streets has been secured. Picture: Stewart McLean

Mr Miles said his department will now co-ordinate a joint master plan for

the site in collaboration with JCU and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health

Service.

Service chairman Clive Skarott said the Cairns Health Innovation Centre would become

the flagship building of the Cairns University Hospital.

“The Cairns Health Innovation Centre is the first stage of our Cairns University

Hospital Redevelopment Project and would allow us to collaborate on clinical

research, trials, education, training, innovation, Indigenous health and community

engagement,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to working with JCU and the Queensland Government to

deliver a great precinct.”

The Precinct will include a new health building known as the Cairns Health

Innovation Centre.

JCU Cairns campus director David Craig said the future of the Captain James Cook statue would be carefully considered. Picture: Stewart McLean

CHHHS will relocate some of its research, education and training services to the new

Cairns Health Innovation Centre, which would allow the service to expand its patient

bed footprint and relieve pressure at the adjacent Cairns Hospital.

JCU Cairns campus director David Craig was buoyed by agreement of all stakeholders.

“They have worked through their process and we have worked through ours and we have (secured) a good outcome for everyone,” he said.

Asked about the future of the Captain James Cook statue visible from Sheridan Street, Mr Craig was staunch in JCU’s resolve to make sure the iconic landmark was not forgotten.

“It’s important that everyone understands the university is taking the matter seriously we are giving it good consideration,” he said.

“We won’t be rushing into everything or won’t be flippant in the way we chose to proceed.”

JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said that the precinct would

help to attract and retain specialists from around the world.

“The development of the precinct … allows for the co-location of

students, teachers, clinicians and researchers, making this a creative and exciting

place in which to study and work,” she said.

There is an in-principle agreement between JCU and the CHHHS to finalise a land

transaction to allow the Cairns Health Innovation Centre to take shape within the

precinct.

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Originally published as Land deal done to lock in Cairns University Hospital site