Rehabilitation centre development application approved

The construction of a $347 million specialist rehabilitation care centre in Brisbane’s north is a step closer following approval of the first development application under the recently announced Herston Quarter Priority Development Area (PDA) Development Scheme.

The specialist rehabilitation and ambulatory care centre will be built in a partnership between the Palaszczuk Government and preferred tenderers Australian Unity as part of the $1.1 billion Herston Quarter redevelopment.

In announcing the approval, Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the facility was a priority in the redevelopment of the Herston health precinct.

“Development of the $1.1 billion Herston Quarter facility is expected to support about 700 jobs annually over the life of the project,” Mr Dick said.

“This approval comes only a month after the Herston Quarter PDA development scheme was approved and demonstrates this government's commitment to jobs action on the redevelopment of the health precinct and the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to jobs right across the state.

“That includes construction jobs in the development of this facility and also continued growth in our health and knowledge industries.

"The specialist rehabilitation care centre is the first significant construction to commence which is an important reassurance to the community that this site will continue to provide public health services into the future.”

The centre will be operated by Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS) and will provide specialised care for long-stay acute rehabilitation patients and will showcase Brisbane as a world-class health care, research and knowledge destination.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Dr Steven Miles said the specialist public health facility is the first stage in this major development project.

“Redevelopment of the Herston health precinct will deliver facilities that will attract the best clinicians, health workers, researchers, academics and health students to Brisbane,” Dr Miles said.

Member for McConnel, Grace Grace MP, welcomed the approval of this new health facility.

“The Herston health precinct has provided health services for Queenslanders for generations and it has always been important to me that we celebrate that heritage,” Ms Grace said.

"The specialist rehabilitation and ambulatory care centre will be the first significant construction to commence and is an important reassurance to the community that this site will continue to provide public health services into the future.”

Metro North Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Shaun Drummond said the public health facility will be the centrepiece of the $1.1 billion redevelopment of Herston Quarter.

“The facility will provide specialist rehabilitation, elective surgery and outpatient services and is being developed to offer a high level of patient-focused care much needed in Queensland,” Mr Drummond said.

“Once fully operational in 2021, the specialist public facility will help meet the demand for rehabilitation services.

“The range of specialist rehabilitation services will care for patients recovering from a brain injury, trauma, stroke, burns and a range of medical conditions requiring specialist rehabilitation services.”

Australian Unity Executive General Manager Property Mark Pratt, said: “Australian Unity welcomes Economic Development Queensland’s approval of this innovative specialist public health facility and new public space that will form part of the transformation at Herston Quarter.

“By working in partnership with Metro North Hospital and Health Service, we look forward to delivering a purpose built, state-of-the-art specialist public health facility that will meet the increasing demands for social infrastructure in Queensland.”

FAST FACTS

The $300 million Specialist Rehabilitation and Ambulatory Care Centre is part of a $1.1 Billion redevelopment of the Herston Quarter which will also include:

• a new private hospital
• aged care and retirement living
• student and residential accommodation
• retail and commercial space
• new public realm and spaces

Construction is anticipated to commence in March and the centre is expected to be completed by end 2020.

For more information about Herston Quarter visit www.herstonquarter.com.au or Herston Quarter PDA visit www.dilgp.qld.gov.au/herston-quarter-pda

ENDS

Media contact: Cath Palmer, 0424 823 424