Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House, the urgent need for a public hospital and health precinct with full emergency department facilities on the Northern Gold Coast. It is well recognised that the Coomera/Ormeau/Pimpama area is the fastest growing region in Queensland, if not Australia. As such it is essential that this area is properly serviced by appropriate medical infrastructure. 

Queensland Treasury statistics reveal the population of the Northern Gold Coast (200,104) is equivalent in size to the city of Townsville (204,262), with an average annual growth rate in 2021 for the Northern Gold Coast of more than three times that of Townsville (4.2% verses 1.2%).

Townsville has had a public hospital with emergency department facilities for many years. 

The $3 million pre-election commitment by the government in 2020 (which did not appear as a line item in successive budgets), is insufficient to properly develop a full business case and complete planning to produce a master plan for a Northern Gold Coast hospital and health precinct.

With the 2022 Queensland State Government Budget due to be brought down on the 21st of June, now is the time to commit the appropriate funding to urgently develop the business case and planning for the construction of a hospital.

Your petitioners therefore request the House to do all in its power to ensure the delivery of a hospital and health precinct on the Northern Gold Coast as a matter of urgency.