Masterplan unveiled for Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct

In releasing the Precinct’s master plan today, Ms Trad said the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct would be the largest urban renewal project ever undertaken on the Gold Coast, and was an exciting step in the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland Initiative.

“Through Advance Queensland, we’re focused on ensuring we diversify and future-proof Queensland’s economy, particularly in important regional centres like the Gold Coast, by turning to knowledge based industries for the jobs of tomorrow,” Ms Trad said.

“The GCHKP is already home to some of Queensland best research and medical facilities and currently supports more than 9,200 jobs, including 5,250 in health and 500 in research.

“Once this 200 hectare precinct is fully developed, we expect to see our Advance Queensland initiative in action, supporting more than 20,000 jobs for the Gold Coast and supercharging its expanding knowledge economy.

“GCHKP is already fast becoming one of the Gold Coast’s most vibrant communities, benefiting from more than $5 billion in infrastructure including Griffith University, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast Private Hospital, major road upgrades, Gold Coast Light Rail and the development of the $550 million Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Village.

“The master plan will bring together and activate the full potential of this site, guiding the redevelopment of the Village’s legacy benefits to achieve a genuine, well designed and integrated urban community, offering a mix of residential, recreational and commercial facilities, and open space to maximise opportunities for interactions.

“We know Queensland is at the forefront of new ideas and innovation, and this master plan will transform the Precinct into an integrated and collaborative hub for learning, research, knowledge creation and investment, and will help facilitate the commercialisation of newly developed technology.

“It’s crucial that we skill our workforce for the future and turn our focus to knowledge-based industries to ensure we build a prosperous, liveable, sustainable and resilient Queensland, and I envision this master plan will help us to do just that for the Gold Coast.”

Ms Trad said following GC2018, more than 200,000 m2 of gross floor area within the GCHKP would be made available for public and private development over the next 20 years, which was already attracting significant commercial interest.

“A number of globally competitive allied health and knowledge business opportunities are already being explored for the precinct’s future, including 3D/4D printing, medical device development,

design and manufacturing, robotics or artificial intelligence, medical supply chains, nanotechnology development and child and aged care facilities and research centres.”

City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said these opportunities showed the value of the partnership council has with the Queensland Government, Griffith University and Gold Coast Hospital & Health Service to attract further investment to the Precinct, with the establishment of a dedicated GCHKP Project Office, and the launch today of a ‘GCHKP Business & Investment Attraction’ brochure.

“This investment focused brochure will be used by the Project Office to market the GCHKP globally and actively target desirable tenants, businesses and investors to the precinct and region,” Mr Tate said.

“The benefits of this precinct to the Gold Coast’s economy in the short and long term will be enormous, supporting and creating jobs, attracting investment to the city and stimulating our innovation, health and knowledge industries.”

Key features of the GCHKP

•   More than $5 billion in infrastructure already benefiting precinct including Gold Coast Light Rail, major road upgrades and the GC2018 Village legacy.

•   Expected to be valued at a further $1 billion once fully developed

•   5,250 health staff, 500 researchers and 16,500 students currently, with potential to support more than 20,000 jobs once fully developed

•   12,000 m2 mixed use retail – 5,700m2 through the GC2018 Village and potential for 6,300m2 more

•   1,252 permanent residences, providing housing for 2,500 future residents

•   Direct access to City of Gold Coast’s network of cycle ways, and 85% of precinct within five minute walk to light rail

•   45 minutes to Brisbane CBD via rail and 10 minutes to Gold Coast CBD via light rail

•   7ha of new parklands, connecting to another 157ha of sporting fields, reserves, open space and green corridors

•   2.2 kilometres of landscaped streets and public access to the Gold Coast University Hospital, the Gold Coast Private Hospital and Griffith University

•   Parklands PDA achieves UDIA 5 leaf EnviroDevelopment certification for outstanding sustainability initiatives.