Gladstone Regional Council’s recent decision to reject an extension for the hospital and retirement facility development has left many in the coastal community of Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy disheartened. That massive project got some preliminary approval back in 2018. It seeks to address the increasing health service demands of a community that swells from 3,000 to over 9,000 in population during vacation weeks. Despite being given multiple opportunities to do so, the council has consistently denied requests to extend approval. This decision was made despite the demand for healthcare services at an all-time high.
The proposed facility was to have hundreds of mostly custom-built homes for over-50s – making it a kind of retirement-resort-style living arrangement. The area now relies on finding a doctor at three local GP surgeries for care. The closest hospitals are a 90-minute drive away, either in Bundaberg or Gladstone. Local stakeholders maintain that the absence of easily accessible healthcare creates major hurdles for residents, especially senior citizens.
Local Voices Highlight Healthcare Challenges
Long-time resident and local business owner Wayne Mellick highlighted the danger of his community lacking sufficient hospital care. He touted the region’s potential as a retirement magnet, but he cried as he talked about the need for a new medical center.
“We need a hospital … it’s past the stage of desperate,” – Wayne Mellick
Mellick added that older residents sometimes don’t realize how important it is to have quick and easy access to medical care. This realization is usually too late for them.
“People aren’t aware when they do get older that they are going to require medical services and we don’t have those medical facilities here at Agnes Water,” – Wayne Mellick
He recounted his own serious thoughts about moving away because of the healthcare restrictions, saying,
“I’m 63 years old now and I’m looking at relocating one day to Emu Park or Yeppoon for that very reason of not having a complete medical system at my doorstep.” – Wayne Mellick
Community Leaders Express Disappointment
Amber Rodgers, president of Discovery Coast Tourism and Commerce, didn’t hide her dismay. She was fired up over the council’s failure to grant an extension on the development approval. She highlighted the proven positive impact that private investment would have on the surrounding community.
“I find it disappointing when private investment is offering to increase the services available in our community and that doesn’t progress,” – Amber Rodgers
Rodgers emphasized the adverse timing of this decision, especially in light of all the growth the region is experiencing. The 2021 census revealed that 30 percent of Agnes Water’s population was over 60 years old, indicating an increasing demand for comprehensive healthcare services.
Andrew Hunter of Zone Planning Group, which provided plans for the proposed hospital and retirement community, agreed with this assessment. He noted that with the rise of over-50s lifestyle communities, the need for better healthcare solutions is more pressing than ever.
“Those people need convenient access to higher levels of care than just a general practice,” – Andrew Hunter
The Future of Healthcare in Agnes Water
While disappointed with this setback, the interest in creating new healthcare options within Agnes Water continues to be high. With many retirees continuing to move into southern boomtowns, the need for better health services is brought into sharper relief.
Hunter expressed frustration over the council’s decision, describing it as a waste of taxpayers’ money. He emphasized the necessity for support from state government or larger private health providers to establish a satellite hospital in the region.
“It just seems to be a waste of taxpayers’ money, refusing it and making us go through an appeal and potentially having to look at other options for the site,” – Andrew Hunter
