THIS IS THE REGION’S MOST PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY, GENERATING AROUND $355 MILLION FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
The Tweed is currently serviced by two public hospitals, located in Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah, and they are among the largest employers in the Tweed – generating substantial flow-on economic benefits to the region in terms of demand for retail, offices and residential housing.
The NSW Government has committed to building a new state-of-the-art hospital by 2023. With a construction cost of $534 million, it is expected to be the biggest infrastructure project in the Tweed to date.*
The new hospital will not only greatly improve health services for the region – forecast to grow by more than 40 per cent to 128,000 people by 2031 – but also help ensure this valuable sector will continue to thrive well into the future.
* Source: Draft Tweed Shire – Regional Economic Development Strategy, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet
The health and welfare sector employs more of the local labour force than any other sector. Census data shows that three in every 20 people work in this industry.
The Tweed’s proximity to South East Queensland gives it access to highly skilled professionals, many specialist services and excellent training facilities.
With the advent of the new hospital, there is further opportunity for integrated planning of the sector to accommodate service industries and allied health and other service sectors that could leverage from the new hospital.