The petition of electors of the Divisions of Mulgrave and Cairns draws to the attention of the House that there is currently no all weather, category 5 rated hospital in the Cairns region.

Your petitioners therefore request the House to investigate, fund and progress with construction of an all weather category 5 rated medical facility on the recently acquired land for Queensland Health purposes on Mill Road, Edmonton.  In the short term this facility could accommodate an accident and emergency department, operating theatres, x-ray facilities, isolation room, birthing suites, and a number of medical/surgical beds.  We recognise that most areas of the redeveloped Esplanade site will reach a 3 to 4 cyclone rating when completed however this will not alleviate the need for evacuations in the future in the event of a category 5 cyclone/storm surge/tsunami.