THE State Government has announced the completion of the $129.9 million Ripley Satellite Health Centre expansion, dropping the previously approved multi-storey car park planned for the site.
The expansion delivers a three-storey, 90 overnight-bed facility to provide patient care to the local community.
It includes clinical services for rehabilitation, geriatric care, palliative care and interim care and a landscaped therapy garden.
However, local MPs said while the Government was claiming the credit for a 90-bed sub-acute facility, planned and funded by the former Miles Government, the project had been downgraded.
The project originally included a multi-storey car park on the Barrams Rd site at South Ripley, but an amendment to the previous government’s plan for the Ripley Satellite Hospital replaces the multi-storey car park with an expansion of the staff car park.
State Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum said the multi-storey car park was designed to meet the needs of patients, staff and local residents.
“Along with cutting ribbons, they also want to cut a planned multi-storey car park at the same site,” Mr McCallum said.
“Without it, more cars will spill onto suburban streets, creating traffic congestion and a daily headache for the South Ripley community.
“It’s a short-sighted move that shows how out of touch the Crisafulli Government is with the needs of our fast-growing community.”
A spokeswoman for Health and Ambulance Services Minister Tim Nicholls confirmed the car park would be built as “on-grade parking” rather than the previously planned three-storey structure.
“This decision follows community consultation undertaken during the MID process, where most feedback related to the scale of the multi-storey car park near adjacent housing,” she said.
“The revised on-grade design addresses these concerns while maintaining the same number of spaces, providing efficient access and incorporating measures to minimise noise and impacts for residents.”
The State Government said it invested $146 million in new funding in the 2025-26 Budget to health services under the Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program, including for the Ripely Sub-Acute Expansion project.
Mr Nicholls said the South Ripley facility would deliver more hospital beds and services for one of Queensland’s fastest-growing areas.
West Moreton Health Chief Executive Hannah Bloch said the new facility would help meet the growing healthcare demands of the region.
“Local patients will benefit greatly and can be assured they are in safe hands,” Ms Bloch said.
The State Govt’s strategy for Ipswich health services:
- Ipswich Hospital expansion;
- Transit Care Centre upgrade;
- New Mater Hospital Springfield;
- Ripley Satellite Health Centre Sub-Acute Expansion Project;
- $1 billion boost for Queensland Ambulance Service;
- $581.4 million for continued access to hospital beds across the state;
- $55 million to improve patient flow.
