Huge win for Daintree locals as Cow Bay Primary Health Care Centre project gets underway
PROGRESS
Staff Writers
This project is part of the Building Rural and Remote Health Program (BRRHP) and is being delivered by Cairns and Hinterland Health and Hospital Service.
Phase two of the BRRHP is delivering $943.5 million in services and infrastructure across regional and remote Queensland and includes $14.8 million for the Cow Bay PHCC.
Preliminary planning indicates Cow Bay will receive a new standalone facility with three consultation rooms. There will be onsite accommodation for a permanent onsite director of nursing and for twice weekly doctor visits.
The new facility will also include an indoor waiting room and toilets, a mental health consultation room, a resuscitation treatment room and also provides space for visiting services such as Breastscreen and Allied health services.
In addition, the project scope includes a helicopter landing site.
Work on the land acquisition process is already underway and expected to be finished this year. Detailed design is scheduled to be completed by the same time, with the completion of construction forecast by November 2024.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said all Queenslanders deserve quality health care no matter where they live.
“This is a great outcome for locals in Cow Bay and the Daintree area. I have been advocating for uplift of the facility at Cow Bay for many years and I am so thrilled to see the rubber is now hitting the road for this project," Ms Lui remarked.
“I have worked in health in regional and remote settings here in Far North Queensland for many years and understand the importance of quality infrastructure. Better local infrastructure means we can deliver more services closer to home.
“Investing in Primary Health Care centres means people have greater access to quality health care without having to travel far from their home base and support network.
“I will always fight for better health services and outcomes for communities in the Douglas Shire and across the Cook electorate, and I know the Palaszczuk Government will too.”