Townsville University Hospital and James Cook University Master Plan (TropiQ)

The Townsville University Hospital and James Cook University (TropiQ) Master Plan set out to provide a future blueprint for a precinct that provides a welcoming and culturally-inclusive community.

Hassell partnered with Insideout Architects and North QLD Cultural Heritage to deliver a program of engagement through the four-phase master planning project.

Consultation with Bindal Traditional Owners throughout the seven-month master planning process underpinned the principles, strategies and outcomes of the Master Plan for the institution and wider TropiQ precinct. 

Across the site, wayfinding, creek corridor and land management and native planting palettes were all informed by the consultation process.

The resulting precinct has significant open space at its heart, includes re-naturalised creeks providing access and amenity, and shaded verandah walks offer a bi-lingual and bi-cultural journey, storytelling and connections to country. 

At a clinical level, where indigenous patients occupy approximately 30% of beds with significantly longer lengths of stay, consultation resulted in step-down facilities, appropriate sizing of clinical consultation rooms, and funeral facilities on-site. 

Perhaps most importantly, the Master Plan sets the framework for continued and ongoing engagement as the precinct develops and evolves.

CONSULTATION GROUPS

• Bindal Traditional Owner Representatives
• Gudjuda Reference Group (the third-party service provider for the Bindal People)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Leadership Advisory Council
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• Community Advisory Council
• Centre for Indigenous Industrial Design
• Indigenous Business Network