Frequently asked
questions
Construction
Construction can commence on Cudgen Connection just as soon as all the approvals are in place.
Experienced industry participants Centuria Healthcare, Digital Infratech, Cottee Parker Architects, Blades Project Services and Planit Town Planners will undertake the project once approvals are in place.
Cudgen Connection is a collaboration of experienced industry groups Centuria Healthcare and Digital Infratech, Kingscliff-based town planners Planit Consulting, Cottee Parker Architects and project managers Blades Project Services. All partners have decades of individual experience in delivering outstanding projects to the built environment.
The concept is preliminary at this stage. A number of health studies have been undertaken resulting in unanimous support for the project. Details are a work in progress.
We want to hear from you, the community, to help shape the future of Cudgen Connection. Email us at [email protected], sign up for news and updates or apply to become a connector as part the Cudgen Connection Community Engagement Program (CCCEP).
Although the site is zoned farmland, it has not been farmed for decades. Onsite scientific analysis indicates significant land use conflicts which limit the viability of primary production and its footprint to about 30 percent of the site. There are non-rural pursuits on three of its four boundaries – the new Tweed Valley Hospital to the east, residential development to the west and environmental areas to the north.
The site is now isolated from other important farmland on the Cudgen Plateau. The Cudgen Connection concept includes a buffer to Cudgen Road and farmland beyond to the south, containing conflict to within the Cudgen Connection site. This separation and treatment upholds the ability of the Cudgen Plateau to be farmed uninhibited into the future
The site has a land area of 5.7 hectares.
Concept
The site at 741 Cudgen Road, Cudgen, adjoins Tweed Valley Hospital to the east, open space to the north, Tweed Coast Road and residential housing to the west and Cudgen Road to the south.
The concept delivers a new university campus, aged care facilities and essential worker housing, private hospital, medi-hotel, specialist and allied healthcare, rehab pool, gym, farmers’ markets and eateries. A community hub will house a Centre of Excellence for Koala Research operated by the Koala Research Foundation Australia, a business incubator and not-for-profits that deliver mental health, youth, suicide prevention and other services. There will also be childcare facilities, an amphitheatre and children’s playground.
Cudgen Connection will deliver health, education and community services, jobs and housing for essential workers while improving data connectivity and public transport. A community hub will be built at no cost to taxpayers or the community.
Farmers’ market, paddock-to-plate eateries and an amphitheatre will provide unique places for the community to connect.
Cudgen Connection will rise from landscaped grounds with amphitheatre, pool and children’s playground to a private hospital next to Tweed Valley Hospital. World-class sustainability features include solar power and water recycling. Underground parking leaves more room for parklands. A boardwalk offers views of nearby wetlands.
Cudgen Connection will benefit the Tweed and Northern Rivers community. Essential workers and aged care residents will live onsite and welcome visitors. Family and friends will visit patients at the private hospital or neighbouring Tweed Valley Hospital. The eateries and farmers’ markets will attract locals and visitors.
Yes. Co-locating private healthcare services with public healthcare is proven to deliver optimum patient outcomes. Collaboration and collective exchange between public and private sectors is the key to delivering a productive health precinct. Research, education and best practice precinct principles will be employed.
Tweed Valley Hospital is a public hospital funded by the various levels of government. Cudgen Connection is a privately funded initiative built around a private hospital, allied health services, aged care, short term and essential worker accommodation. Co-locating the two facilities significantly enhances pedestrian and traffic movement for workers, patients and visitors as well as accessibility to all services provided by both facilities.
Economic value
Cudgen Connection represents an investment of $250 million.
Cudgen Connection is forecast to create about 1000 new long-term local jobs in the health, education, community and service industries and hundreds more in the design and construction phases.
Cudgen Connection is a private initiative and will be funded privately by commercial banks and health funds. Whilst no government funding is being sought to finance the project, significant taxation revenue will be generated across all tiers of government.
Services & facilities
Cudgen Connection will deliver a new university campus, aged care facilities and essential worker housing, a private hospital, medi-hotel, specialist and allied healthcare, rehab pool, gym, community hub, farmers’ markets, eateries and an amphitheatre all set in parklands. It will also have childcare facilities, community and public spaces and a children’s playground.
As a health, education and community precinct, the concept will support emerging and growth industries, attract innovation and investment and encourage lifelong opportunities for education and training. A university campus will be located onsite.
Digital innovation
Cudgen Connection partner in Digital Infratech is currently installing a network of fibre optic data cables from a new undersea cable network located on the Sunshine Coast. The undersea cable links directly to Guam in the North Pacific, delivering world class digital connectivity to the Southeast Qld region.
Digital Infratech is currently planning an extension of this network to the Cudgen Connection site, with operational works scheduled for completion in 2024.
This connection will deliver diversity, self-sufficiency & world class digital connectivity not only to the Cudgen Connection precinct, but the region. This will enable the next generation of businesses in health, technology and science to prosper, as well as leverage competitive advantage & speed in diversified internet connections for consumers.
About 250km of data pipe and cables will be required to extend the South East Queensland network into Northern New South Wales. This will empower the region, giving it direct access to world class data connectivity rather than relying on data networks fed from Sydney.
Transport
A major initiative of Cudgen Connection is the implementation of a hub and spoke public transport bus interchange. This will enable trunk bus services to link major local areas of employment, health and trade with spoke regional services to local communities.
Parking will be free for patients and customers of Cudgen Connection under a fair usage policy.
Sustainability
Cudgen Connection aims to uphold and improve the ecological value of the site for future generations.
Creating jobs closer to home combined with the delivery of public transport infrastructure and the clustering of connected land uses that encourage walking and support greater patronage of active and public transport will get private vehicles off the road.
Cudgen Connection will incorporate these best practice environmental initiatives:
- electric car and bike charging stations
- renewable energy generation from solar panels
- water recycling
- Trees and landscaping to improve micro climate
- procurement which supports local business and healthy lifestyles
- use of recycled or recyclable material
- underground car parking and increased landscaping to reduce urban heat island effects
Community engagement
The Cudgen Connection Community Engagement Program (CCCEP) will address regional challenges by harnessing community talent and expertise, engaging Connectors and empowering them to develop and drive community initiatives to achieve solutions. It will provide the framework and tools for these Connectors to design the Cudgen Connection community hub and shape the services it delivers.
A Connector is a dedicated community volunteer who represents an industry or interest group committed to building a more authentic, sustainable and prosperous region. Connectors will be supported by a structured framework and provided with the tools to deliver meaningful and measurable outcomes. They will commit about three hours a fortnight to meetings, working groups and forums over an initial six months.
Fill out the registration form here or email us at [email protected] and tell us about the community you represent and why you should be a Connector.