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Home > Ministers > The Hon Nicola Roxon MP - Minister for Health and Ageing > Media Hub > GP Super Clinic Set to be Delivered for Redcliffe Residents

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PDF printable version of GP Super Clinic Set to be Delivered for Recliffe Residents (PDF 26 KB)

10 October 2011

Construction on the Redcliffe GP Super Clinic will be completed in the coming months with the doors to open in 2012, following new arrangements agreed between the Gillard Government, Redcliffe Hospital Foundation and builders of the Clinic, Constructions Group (Aust).

Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, said today that she was pleased to have reached an agreement which would see construction recommence in the coming weeks and, ultimately, new and enhanced services delivered to Redcliffe residents.

“The overriding desire for everyone has been to ensure that the Moreton Bay Integrated Care Centre is completed and opened,” Ms Roxon said.

The Redcliffe Hospital Foundation, which has been managing the project, is a not-for-profit, charitable foundation that has raised significant donations for local health facilities. However, the Foundation’s ability to access other forms of financing, such as loans, is constrained by it being a Queensland state hospital foundation and the project being on state hospital land. Recognising the unique circumstances of this project, the Commonwealth has agreed to provide up to $3.2 million to enable the Redcliffe GP Super Clinic to be completed.

Under the agreed arrangements for completing the Redcliffe GP Super Clinic:

• The Commonwealth will pay the outstanding progress payments to Constructions Group (Aust), which were originally proposed by the Foundation to have been funded by a loan, and Constructions Group (Aust) will work to recommence construction later in October.
• The Foundation and the Commonwealth have agreed to make variations to the existing Funding Agreement to include new approval requirements for finalisation of the construction and fit-out of the facility.
• The Foundation will immediately commence a process to engage a Clinical Operator to take responsibility for commissioning and operating the Clinic.
• The Foundation will focus on its role as landlord of the facility, freeing it up to get on with its broader core functions as a hospital foundation.

Ms Roxon said that she appreciated the important role the Foundation has played in developing the initial stages of the Redcliffe GP Super Clinic.

The project will now be moving to a new phase where the Foundation will act as the owners and landlords of the facility, while operational aspects will be sub-contracted to an organisation that is experienced in delivering GP and other primary health care services.

Foundation Chair Dr Boris Chern said he was delighted with the agreed arrangements, which would enable the facility to be finalised and essential services to be delivered.

“We do have a vision for the community, we do believe this service delivers on our vision, we think it is a great service for our community, and fundamentally we are here to serve the community,” Dr Chern said.

“Our role in this project was to get it going – we wanted to get the Integrated Care Centre up and running. Now we are so close to finalising construction, it is time for us to engage a high quality operator who can ensure the delivery of the services which the Redcliffe community needs.

“That will enable us to concentrate on our core role – to represent the interests of the community and to raise funds to best meet community need. This is a good outcome for the Government, the Foundation, and the residents of the Peninsula.”

Constructions Group (Aust) Director, Ben Holley, said today that he was very happy with the agreement and that his company would be contacting subcontractors as a matter of urgency with the aim of having them back on site later in October.

“Construction will take place over coming months, with the fit-out of the building occurring in early 2012. However we aim to do it in stages so that the facility can be opened floor by floor, with the first floors being opened involving the GP and allied health services.”

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220