Portfolio — 27 March 2026

The Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and Minister for Emergency Management, Ms McBain, announced the commencement of construction on a new research and education campus at the Currumbin Wildlife Institute on the Gold Coast [TA-260327-infras-0d6d071d2be8]. The facility, expected to open by late 2027, will expand treatment capacity at one of the world's busiest wildlife hospitals and add a dedicated visitor education component.

The Commonwealth contribution is $8 million delivered through the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, with the Queensland Government contributing $4 million and the City of Gold Coast contributing $2 million, bringing the total project cost to $16.6 million. The three-level funding structure illustrates the coordinated investment model Ms McBain's portfolio has been advancing through the Precincts and Partnerships Program — federal anchor funding drawing in state and local co-investment on regionally significant infrastructure.

The Currumbin campus sits within a larger Queensland wildlife hospital program: the Queensland Government has committed $39.6 million to deliver five such hospitals across the state, with the Currumbin facility one of that cohort [TA-260327-infras-0d6d071d2be8]. Today's announcement is a comms-only record; no parliamentary contribution was on file for this date.