EDITION 77, November 2016
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Future Site For Health and Sporting Precinct by JESS pieper A site has recently been purchased by Queensland Health for a future health facility on the southside of Cairns to service areas including Gordonvale and surrounds. The 5.2ha property is opposite the Edmonton PCYC adjoining Sugarworld Shopping centre on Walker Road Edmonton and reportedly cost 6 million dollars. The area south of Cairns is expected to be home to more than 60 000 people over the next 10 years and the establishment of a health facility is of high priority. Curtis Pitt said, “Since being first elected in 2009, I've pushed for the further development of health facilities in the growing Southern Corridor of Cairns. So as the local MP and Treasurer, I'm thrilled that the purchase of this land has finally been announced. Until this new land purchase was locked in, I've been unable to discuss the next steps at Edmonton. In the lead-up to this year's State Budget I allocated $230 million for additional health infrastructure to include the development of a new Health Precinct for the southern corridor, as well as other projects in the Far North like Atherton Hospital and Thursday Island Hospital. This parcel of land is strategically located across the road from Edmonton PCYC (which of course doubles as a cyclone shelter and has gym facilities that may assist with rehabilitation) and the Balance! Healthcare Pty Ltd GP Superclinic which already offers a range of health services.
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This site has most of the same characteristics that were needed when the original southern health land was acquired. It's on the western side of the highway, has good flood immunity, it's near where people live, go to school and do their shopping. And a new Walker Road health facility will provide a backup option during a natural disaster, with room for a helipad in the precinct. The purchase of this land goes towards enhancing the southside of Cairns with the construction currently underway of the Edmonton sporting precinct.”
This facility is expected to have many facilities including • 5 diamond fields to service baseball and softball • 4 oval fields (2 senior, 2 junior) to accommodate vigoro, cricket, AFL and hockey (1 junior at School) • 2 rectangular fields to service football (soccer), touch and oztag • 2 multi-purpose amenities hubs (possible future shared clubhouse) + small toilet/ storage hub • Outdoor multi-purpose courts • Recreational elements - exercise & play, picnic & seating, pedestrian & cycling infrastructure, and arts & cultural installations • Parking, traffic and landscaping.
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