The State Government will invest $15 million to acquire land for a new research and education precinct near Cairns Hospital to be built in partnership with James Cook University.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the announcement was in addition to a $52.9 million investment in upgrades for Cairns Hospital committed at the recent Cairns Community Cabinet.

“It’s a crucial further step following last month’s commitment to upgrade the hospital and begin planning with JCU to transition the facility to a university hospital, bringing our current commitment to $67.9 million,” she said.

Along with $60 million the university has already secured from the Federal Government, the funding announced today will enable the purchase of land and the construction of JCU’s Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre (CTEC).

JCU Cairns director Dr David Craig said establishing the CTEC was a crucial step in the development of the Cairns University Hospital.

“It will enable us to relocate our Clinical School, currently home base for 178 medical students, from the hospital to new purpose-built facilities,” he said

“Other research and teaching facilities currently based in the hospital will also be relocated.

“This will free up precious space needed by the hospital as it builds towards University Hospital status. It will also allow JCU to expand the range of courses offered in Cairns.

“CTEC will include facilities for collaboration between hospital and university staff. For example, in addition to medical and health-related programs, it will be a centre of research and education in areas including data science and Internet of Things research, applying cutting-edge technology to the challenges facing health and medical professionals and their remote, rural and Indigenous patients.

“Together, CTEC and Cairns University Hospital will be transformative for Cairns and the Far North. In addition to the jobs involved in their construction, they will expand the range of medical treatments available here, and help stem the brain drain from the region by creating new educational opportunities and career paths.”

A number of sites were being considered for the CTEC, he said.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Queensland Government’s $67.9 million investment towards the Cairns University Hospital initiative and upgrading the hospital included:

• $15 million for land for a research, education and innovation precinct at the Cairns Hospital
• $1.5 million for the preliminary business case to start planning for a research and training facility and additional beds to cater for future population growth
• A $26.4 million expansion of the Cairns Hospital Emergency Department
• $1.5 million to turn a currently unused space into a multidisciplinary pre-admission clinic
• $2 million to add a new endoscopy room
• $800,000 to fit out a 12th operating theatre
• $20.7 million has also been committed to critical upgrades at Cairns Hospital which will cater for projected future demand on utilities at the site.