Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt today welcomed news the Queensland Government had taken steps to acquire a parcel of land in Edmonton as the location for future health services in Cairns’ southern corridor.
Queensland Health advised in March 2010 that confidential negotiations were occurring and Mr Pitt said since that time he has been actively making representations to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health Paul Lucas to confirm a site, most recently in a speech to Parliament last week.
“Today I received confirmation from the Minister for Health that notices have been issued to initiate compulsory acquisition of Mann’s Farm on Mill Road,” Mr Pitt said.
“This is exciting news for local residents who are seeing action from this Government towards a future hospital and better health services in the southern corridor.”
“The future of health facilities for the region was one of my top priorities at the last election and today I’m meeting a commitment I gave to secure land for a major health facility in the southern suburbs of Cairns.”
Mann’s Farm was one of several that had been assessed after Queensland Health called for expressions of interest in the area to find suitable land for proposed hospital and ancillary services.
Mr Pitt said he was today advised that the notices were issued to the landowners last week, after a period of negotiation failed to result in an agreement.
“Now the Government has initiated steps to compulsorily acquire the land and the landowners have been notified of that,” Mr Pitt said.
“Government needs to follow clearly established legal requirements in the Acquisition of Land Act.”
Mr Pitt said today’s announcement showed the Bligh Government was serious about planning for the future healthcare needs of people in our region.
“Labor went to the last election with a two-pronged strategy which included the $446.3 million redevelopment of the existing Cairns Base Hospital site and acquisition of land for a health facility in the southern suburbs of Cairns,” Mr Pitt said.
“Today’s announcement will put many people’s minds at ease and give some assurance that the southern suburbs are not being forgotten when it comes to future health services.”
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