 |
Questions Without Notice Questions without notice are asked of Ministers and answered during Question Time.
Mr LAWLOR: My question without notice is to the Minister for Health. Minister, the Beattie
government is embarking on the largest health infrastructure program in Australia, including three new
tertiary hospitals. Could you please update the House on planning for these hospitals, including the
$1.2 billion Gold Coast University Hospital?
Mr ROBERTSON: I thank the member for the question and acknowledge his ongoing interest in
one of the most exciting projects in Australia today, and that of course is the $1.2 billion Gold Coast
University Hospital. Queensland's health system is undergoing some major physical changes and over
the next number of years it will be almost unrecognisable with significant upgrades throughout the state
and of course three new tertiary hospitals. I am pleased to inform the House that the new hospitals on
the Gold and Sunshine coasts and new Queensland Children's Hospital worth a total of $3 billion are on
track. Last month we welcomed the successful teams of consultants commissioned to plan and design
the children's and Gold Coast hospitals. Consultants have also been commissioned to start the planning
phase for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and develop a business case as part of the public-private
partnership evaluation process. The size and complexity of these projects attracted interest from some
of the industry's most experienced consultancy companies. I am confident that we have appointed the
best consultants available in Australia with the expertise and proven track record needed to deliver our
vision.
In other achievements, the Premier and I have recently announced the preferred site for the 750-
bed Gold Coast University Hospital at Parklands. My department has begun negotiations with
landholders to acquire the preferred site, and I am advised that these meetings are progressing well.
I am also advised that these negotiations will not impact on the project's schedule. Meanwhile, at the
same time clinical service planning for the new hospital is also underway. On the same day as the site
announcement, the first two-day planning workshop commenced. Queensland Health is also working
with the Office of Urban Management to complete a Gold Coast University Hospital and knowledge
precinct master plan by the end of this month. The master plan will maximise opportunities to integrate
the hospital and nearby infrastructure such as the rapid transit system for the benefit of the community.
During the week I note that in the Gold Coast Sun under the headline 'Angry MP wants answers'
the opposition health spokesperson said that he would be demanding the state government and
Queensland Health give the public a full account of what its plans are for the Gold Coast hospitals. He
went on to make a range of other claims. I just note that today is Thursday and that he has one chance
left to make good on his public pronouncements about demanding answers from the government,
although given the content of the answers so far perhaps I have given him the answers that he needs.
So once again I have let him off the hook.
In relation to the new children's hospital, a health services plan has been drafted and will be
distributed for broader consultation later this month. This will inform government and the community of
the range of services the new hospital will deliver when built. The design phase has also commenced,
with the first of a series of master planning workshops held last week. During master planning the
project team will determine how the buildings fit on the site, the size and location of different
departments and how the hospital will link with existing areas in the Mater precinct. On the Sunshine
Coast-
Time expired. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 11:06 AM
Back
|
|
