Queensland’s Hospital Rescue Plan has reached a major milestone, with masterplans finalised for key hospital and health projects across the State.
The Queensland Government has said that clear timelines have now been locked in to deliver the extra beds Queenslanders urgently need, restoring health services when Queenslanders need them most.
Fresh masterplans have been finalised for Townsville University Hospital, Toowoomba Hospital, Coomera Hospital, Redcliffe Hospital and Bundaberg Hospital, and key details firmed up for major hospital upgrades at Cairns, Hervey Bay, Princess Alexandra, QEII, Logan and Ipswich Hospitals.
The Queensland Government is now powering ahead with a significant surge in planning and construction across the state in the coming months, including:
- Coomera Hospital: Main construction commencing in the second half of 2026, with 400 beds and expanded acute and specialist services to be delivered in 2031. The remaining 200 beds are to follow in 2032.
- Redcliffe Hospital: Main procurement starting in early 2026 to enable construction of the major hospital expansion, delivering at least 210 new overnight beds, enhanced maternity and endoscopy services and additional operating theatres. The first beds will be delivered from late 2027, with full completion expected in 2032. Work is also beginning on the three-level extension to the multi-storey car park, providing more than 530 new spaces in 2027.
- Toowoomba Hospital: The new facility will be delivered on the Baillie Henderson campus, with stage one to be completed in 2029. This includes 538 overnight beds, an 84-bed acute mental health facility, a multi-storey car park and expanded clinical services.
- Townsville University Hospital: The expansion will be fast-tracked to deliver stage one in 2028, including at least 165 new beds. This includes increasing the size of the new multi-storey car park from around 650 spaces to more than 1,000.
- Bundaberg Hospital: The first stage will be delivered in 2031, including more than 200 beds and bed alternatives, an expanded emergency department and improved maternity services.
- Cairns Hospital: A new cyclone-rated helipad will accelerate access to lifesaving care, and a contract has been awarded to deliver the $19 million adolescent mental health ward which is expected to be completed in 2027.
- Hervey Bay Hospital: Construction is progressing on the new helipad and 35-bed expansion, to be completed in 2026.
- Princess Alexandra Hospital: Refurbishment of the Research Wing will deliver ICU administration facilities and dedicated common areas and change rooms in mid-2026, supporting the wider hospital expansion that will deliver 249 beds, expanded cancer care and additional parking in 2028.
- Queensland Cancer Plan: A Cancer Centre of Excellence in Brisbane will provide world-leading cancer care and further enhance the state’s position as a research pioneer. Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Wide Bay, Darling Downs, Brisbane and the Gold Coast will now become specialist cancer service hubs supporting regional hospitals in a statewide cancer network, delivering easier access to cancer care across the state.
- QEII Hospital: High-voltage infrastructure upgrades are underway which are critical to enabling operation of the expanded hospital which will deliver 112 new beds, a new and expanded ICU, more operating theatres and expanded clinical support services when complete in 2028.
- Logan Hospital: The roof is now on the clinical services building and works are progressing to deliver 112 new overnight beds and expanded specialist services when complete in 2027.
- Ipswich Hospital: Internal fit-outs on the first two levels are underway, with slab pours on level four to be completed before the end of the year. The 200-bed hospital expansion remains on track for completion in 2028.
- Western Queensland: Upgrades to staff accommodation in Longreach, Charleville, Winton and St George are progressing well, to be completed in early 2026.
The fully funded Hospital Rescue Plan is the largest hospital infrastructure investment in Queensland’s history, delivering at least 2,600 extra beds across new hospitals, expansions and upgrades.
Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls, said that the State Government was restoring health services when Queenslanders needed them most.
“Queenslanders are starting to see the results of getting our hospital build back on track with masterplans, designs and construction moving forward,” Nicholls said.
“We’ve put to bed the poor planning, delays and cost blowouts we inherited and we’re now delivering the hospital beds Queensland needs now and into the future.”
Queensland Health Implementation Lead, Sam Sangster, said the department has been working closely with Hospital and Health Services across the state to ensure these major health builds meet the needs of the local communities in which they serve.
“These masterplans mark an exciting first step in the process where Queenslanders will begin to see work intensifying on sites across the state,” Sangster said.
“It’s important to take the time to properly plan these major projects to ensure we leave a lasting legacy through sustainable infrastructure that caters for staff, clinicians, patients and their families.”
