After years of delays and broken promises, Far North Queensland is finally getting the emergency infrastructure it deserves.
Construction is now underway on a brand-new $31.9 million Queensland Ambulance Service Triple Zero (000) Operations Centre and Regional Office in Cairns — a critical investment in strengthening frontline emergency response across the region.
This purpose-built facility will support the highly skilled Emergency Call Takers and Emergency Medical Dispatchers who answer some of the most urgent calls for help in our community.
Behind every Triple Zero call is a trained professional providing calm, expert guidance in moments of crisis.
In the 2024–25 financial year alone, Queensland Ambulance Service staff answered more than 1.2 million emergency calls, a powerful reminder of just how vital this service is.
The new Cairns Operations Centre will deliver 12 purpose-built workstations, with capacity for future expansion as demand continues to grow. It will ensure staff have the modern, fit-for-purpose facilities they need to continue delivering lifesaving support to Queenslanders.
This investment has been a long time coming.
The former Labor Government first announced the redevelopment back in 2017, promising it would be completed by 2020. But despite years of planning, construction never began.
More concerningly, the project failed to properly account for the realities of building in Far North Queensland including the flood, storm and water challenges that are part of life in Cairns.
Now, under the Crisafulli Government, this project is finally being delivered and built to meet the needs of the region.
The new facility has been designed with improved flood and stormwater resilience, ensuring operational continuity during severe weather events. This is essential infrastructure that must remain operational when communities need it most.
It’s a practical, considered approach that reflects the conditions of the Far North and the importance of reliable emergency services.
The Triple Zero Operations Centre is part of a broader plan to restore and strengthen health services across Far North Queensland.
This includes the Cairns Hospital Master Plan, upgrades to improve patient flow, record investment in elective surgery, and new paramedic roles supporting care in some of the region’s most remote communities.
Together, these initiatives are about delivering a health system that works, not just in policy, but in practice.
Located on Anderson Street in Manunda, the new Operations Centre is expected to be operational in early 2028.
Once complete, Stage Two of the project will focus on redeveloping the Cairns Ambulance Station, further enhancing emergency response capability across the region.
