COOMERA is to be home to a new hospital or medical hub following revelations Queensland Health paid more than $15 million for a parcel of land there.

Property searches show the department bought the 13.5ha plot on Cunningham Drive South three years ago from a private developer and the Department of Infrastructure and Planning.

Queensland Health spokesperson Faileen James said the land was bought to secure ‘future services’ and planning would take place in Coomera in 2012.

The department had previously signalled it was considering building a hospital in the area but has now conceded it will need some form of medical service in Coomera in a decade.

“At this time detailed planning has not determined how the land will be used. However, by 2020-2021 local growth will require services to be delivered from this location,” said Ms James.

Figures from the State Government’s Planning Information and Forecasting Unit predict the Gold Coast’s population will increase by more than 16,000 each year to 728,443 in 2021.

By 2031, the median age of Gold Coast residents is expected to increase from 38 to 42, with the number of people aged 65 and over increasing to 162,000 from 64,000 in 2006.

The Gold Coast University Hospital will have 750 beds by 2016 and will operate along with Robina Hospital, which is undergoing an expansion to become a 364-bed teaching hospital by mid-2011.

Original Article at Goldcoast.com.au by Thomas Chamberlin   |  September 11th, 2010