Innovation hub to come up at Games Village

The 2018 Commonwealth Games Athlete’s Village will soon become part of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP).

Home to Griffith University, Gold Coast University Hospital, and Gold Coast Private Hospital, the GCHKP is a 200-hectare $550 million project in development since 2001. Work has begun in the Athlete’s Village to accommodate 2,500 people in the residential space.

While 7ha of parkland adjacent to the Village will be handed over to the Gold Coast City Council, 9.5ha of greenfield land will be reserved for health and innovation investment.

The City of Gold Coast is working in collaboration with the Queensland government, Griffith University and Gold Coast Health as part of the legacy project.

Queensland Innovation minister Kate Jones views the redevelopment as an opportunity for job generation in the innovation, technology and health sectors. There is considerable interest in the greenfield land with four sites already earmarked for $200 million in commercial development.

GCHKP project director Di Dixon expects the precinct to become one of the most advanced health and knowledge innovation hubs in the Asia-Pacific.

On completion, the precinct is expected to employ over 26,000 people and generate $2.9 billion in gross value to the city's economy.