General News
26 August, 2025
Top-class healthcare
$15m Cow Bay primary medical centre ‘game-changer’ for Shire
A “GAME-CHANGING” $14.8 million Cow Bay Primary Health Care Centre has opened in the Daintree.
The new facility delivers emergency, community and mental health services in a cyclone-resilient, energy-efficient building and replaces an ageing facility, supporting better outcomes and a stronger future for families in the Far North.
It is built on a 10,000sqm site next to the old clinic at Diwan and includes:
A video connection to emergency medical specialists to support emergency care for patients awaiting helicopter retrieval
Three consult rooms and a fully equipped treatment room
An indoor/outdoor waiting area
A helicopter landing pad
On-site staff accommodation.
Cow Bay Primary Health Centre nursing director Michele Lamond, who has worked at the former clinic for nearly 30 years, said the new building was a gamechanger for the community.
“From clinical rooms to the community noticeboard out front, a great amount of thought and detail has gone into this project,” she said.
“The community just love the building – many say it’s the most beautiful they’ve ever seen.
“And the toilets are fabulous. People are laughing – we haven’t had an inside toilet for 28 years.”
The Queensland Government allocated $355 million in new funding as part of the 2025–26 budget for the underfunded building rural and remote health program.
Designed to be resilient in extreme weather, the facility is cyclone-rated and fitted with solar panels and battery banks, enhancing its energy efficiency and self-sufficiency.
Member for Cook David Kempton said the upgraded facility featured improved clinical spaces for visiting specialists and better supported patients awaiting helicopter retrievals in emergencies.
“The Daintree rainforest may be the world’s oldest, but it now has a contemporary medical centre,” he said.
“With the nearest hospital nearly 50km away in Mossman via winding roads, this investment brings vital health services closer to home, supporting better outcomes and a stronger future for families in the Far North.”
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena Singh said the new health centre was designed in response to community needs.
“By listening to local voices, we are improving access to quality healthcare in a state-of-the-art facility, with space for visiting doctors and clinicians and a helipad for emergency retrievals,” Ms Singh said.
“This centre reflects our determination to overcome logistical and weather-related hurdles to build a stunning facility in the heart of the Daintree – requiring more than 200 trips on the iconic ferry to deliver raw materials for construction.”
Other key facts:
Off-grid power supply
Solar panels and battery storage
Two x 160kVA generators (for backup power)
9000L diesel storage tank (sufficient for 14 days without other power)
Three rainwater and bore water storage tanks (total 82,500L).
