The state government of Queensland, Australia, is set to begin early works on the new Pormpuraaw Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) site.

Supported by more than A$1bn ($680.6m) from the government's Building Rural and Remote Health Program, the facility will provide up-to-date healthcare facilities for patients in the Cape York region.

The early works mainly include fencing and ground clearing at the PHCC site, in preparation for the upcoming wet season in Queensland’s Far North region.

The Pormpuraaw PHCC is being developed to offer a wide range of services to improve community health outcomes and address health disparities faced by Indigenous Australians.

The centre will have an emergency department featuring a treatment room, mobile X-ray capabilities, a procedure and resuscitation room, and a decontamination shower.

It will also feature six outpatient consultation rooms to accommodate both current and anticipated patient needs, including those of visiting health organisations such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

In addition, the facility will include a dental suite with dedicated consultation and work areas, a medical records section and a pathology room for specimen collection, along with a 'culturally appropriate' morgue.

The project will create various local jobs in its construction phase, which is due to begin early next year following the wet season.

Work on the site is expected to be complete by mid-2026, depending on weather conditions.

Queensland Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Service Minister Shannon Fentiman said: “This is an exciting milestone in this significant project that will deliver more healthcare for the Pormpuraaw community.

“We’re focused on continually improving the standard of healthcare in remote communities, and a key part of that is investing in the healthcare centres that deliver these vital services.

“The Miles Government is absolutely committed to building the modern health facilities Queenslanders need, now and into the future.”