Capital works projects advancing in Aurukun and Kowanyama

Capital works projects totalling $11 million are set to boost health facilities in Aurukun and Kowanyama.

Tenders for a $7.56 million redevelopment of the Aurukun Primary Health Care Centre are now open, with the first works expected to start in September.

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Cameron Dick said the redevelopment was expected to be completed by July next year.

Mr Dick said the refurbishment and expansion of the Aurukun health centre included:

• additional consultation rooms

• a new telehealth room and patient education rooms

• consultation space and associated office space for mental health staff

• improved office space for existing staff

• improved security office and security systems

• a new ambulance bay

• improved lighting and pathways.

Mr Dick said the redevelopment had been designed to enable progressive full integration of health services in Aurukun in line with the Cape York Transition Action Plan.

The plan was endorsed by the boards of both the Apunipima Cape York Health Council and the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service in January.

“The extra room and additional facilities will support full integration of primary health and acute care services and provide the community with a single entry point for health care,’’ Mr Dick said.

“Seven new units for permanent staff and visiting staff also will be built as part of the redevelopment.

“These new units will be in addition to the existing four two-bedroom duplexes and four single-bedroom units on site and will deliver a substantial expansion of accommodation for permanent staff and regularly visiting health professionals.’’

Ministerial Champion for Aurukun, Treasurer Curtis Pitt said consultants already had been appointed for the Aurukun project and included the Cairns office of GHD Pty Ltd as principal consultant and Turner and Townsend Thinc Pty Ltd as project manager.

“Turner and Townsend Thinc were the project managers for the highly innovative $17.5 million Alpha Multipurpose Health Service and Co-located Emergency Services Facility that was completed in Central West Queensland in June last year,’’ Mr Pitt said.

“They bring some very strong skills and experience to the Aurukun project.’’

Mr Dick said work on a $3.4 million upgrade of staff accommodation at the Kowanyama Primary Health Care Centre also was expected to start in September.

“Tenders for this project are currently being finalised and will be called later this month (July),’’ he said.

Ministerial Champion for Kowanyama, Police Minister Mark Ryan said the accommodation works will include the provision of an additional six accommodation units for local and visiting staff.

“There will also be a common area for staff use and a covered walkway between the accommodation and the primary healthcare centre clinic,” Mr Ryan said

“This expansion and improvement in accommodation at both Aurukun and Kowanyama will ensure the health service can continue to attract and retain permanent staff.

“It will also help accommodate a growing range of visiting health professionals delivering more specialised services to the two communities.

Mr Dick said taken together, this $10.1 million worth of infrastructure upgrades will support more than 25 construction jobs during the course of the projects.

“These works are all part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to maintaining and improving health services in Queensland no matter where they live,” he said.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s investments at Aurukun and Kowanyama will ensure health staff in those communities have the highest quality facilities from which to deliver their vital services.’’

ENDS

 Media Contact: Cath Palmer, 0424 823 424