Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman (left), pictured during a media conference to unveil the new aeromedical retrieval helicopters that will service the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area on 30 August, has confirmed the State Government will now deliver the $200 million Cooktown Hospital project in four years. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
It was a major announcement in the most unconventional way for a government in full election mode, but Cooktown residents will now only have to wait four years for the town’s new $200 million hospital to be built.
On 11 June, the State Government gave the green light for the staged project to be rolled out “over seven years”, with only $8m of the total amount included in the 2024-25 budget.
While the project’s long-awaited approval was welcomed by the community, many criticised the seven-year timeframe and questioned what the ultimate cost would be above and beyond $200m if the project was not completed until 2031.
However, following a press conference in Cairns on 30 August to unveil two new aeromedical retrieval helicopters that will service the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area, Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman approached the Cape York Weekly and casually mentioned the government had tightened up its proposed delivery timeframe by more than 40 per cent.
The timeframe tweak has not been announced publicly by the government but this publication can confirm the new Cooktown Hospital will be operational in the 2027-28 financial year if Labor holds power when voters go to the polls on 26 October.
“I’ve been working with Cynthia Lui to ensure that the people of Cooktown have access to the quality health care they deserve,” Minister Fentiman said.
“That’s why at budget, we committed $200m to the redevelopment of the Cooktown Hospital, and major construction works are scheduled for completion by 2027-28.”
The revelation represents a significant win for Cooktown and the greater region, with Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes praising Minister Fentiman’s commitment to the project.
“This is great news for Cooktown, but also for Cook Shire and the surrounding [local government areas] as it services Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal,” Mayor Holmes said.
“The investment in this project, along with other projects … will underpin economic growth for the shire well into the next decade.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has previously committed to honouring the project if the Liberal National Party claims government in 54 days and Mayor Holmes said she hoped this would extend to the new timeframe.
“Mr Crisafulli has publicly committed to honouring the investment in the hospital,” she said.
“We would expect that he would honour the new timeframes for the hospital project.”
The State Government has tightened its timeframe for delivering the $200 million Cooktown Hospital redevelopment, with construction now scheduled to be completed during the 2027-28 financial year. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
