Baillie Henderson in Toowoomba North is the preferred site for a new Toowoomba Hospital with the state government announcing a $9 million investment in the detailed design phase.

Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk and Minister for Health Steven Miles announced the preferred site and the extra $6 million commitment, in addition to the $3 million already invested.

“Toowoomba is a growing city and a key challenge is ensuring that infrastructure and services are keeping pace with this growth,” the Premier said.

“The doctors, nurses and healthcare staff at Toowoomba Hospital do a tremendous job caring for their community but we need to do the planning for a new hospital now so we’re ready to meet the community’s healthcare needs into the future.

“The detailed design, which is expected to be developed over the next 18 months, will include a full master plan of the site.”

Darling Downs Health Board Chair Mr Mike Horan AM said today’s announcement was tremendous news.

“Having a site that is 75 hectares, or around 180 acres in size, directly adjacent to the Second Toowoomba Range Crossing, provides endless opportunities for a master-planned facility, which we envisage as not just a hospital, but as a health precinct to rival anything in the world,” Mr Horan said.

“We are operating at capacity almost all the time, and the growth within our region means there is ever increasing demand for our services as the principal referral hospital for the Darling Downs, Southern Downs, inner Western Downs and South Burnett.”