MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TERRITORIES KRISTY MCBAIN: A really exciting day for Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. There is an $8 million investment going into this place through our regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, part of a broader program of 15 projects worth $67 million across the country, from Kalgoorlie in WA to the Huon Valley in Tasmania to Katherine in the NT. This project here though is a really important one, a collaboration between the National Trust and the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital for a research and development facility, which will be about training the next generation. And also looking at how we can prevent injury to wildlife across our community. 

JOURNALIST: Why is this so important? 

MCBAIN: It’s incredibly important, because this place here, over 1,000 people either are paid or volunteer their time to look after wildlife across our community. We know Australian wildlife is incredibly important, not only from a tourism aspect, because we live in nature and we want to protect it. So this place here does that day in, day out, and we want to be able to turbocharge the work that they do through this investment. 

JOURNALIST: Michael, you have not stopped smiling? 

MICHAEL PYNE OAM, SENIOR VET AT CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE HOSPITAL: Yeah, look, it's an amazing day. This research and education facility will really revolutionise what we can do here at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. This will get us into the space of prevention. Our hospital admitted 16,000 patients last year, and we want to see that number come down. And you know, we can achieve that through finding the answers to all the challenges with wildlife and getting better education, you know, not only to the community, but to vets, to nurses, to carers. Really help everyone understand how they can help wildlife and help prevent them ending up in a wildlife hospital. 

JOURNALIST: How important is this to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital? 

PYNE: Look, I think this is key for wildlife in general. You know, the wildlife hospitals are passing more and more animals every year. We've got to turn that around. We've got to find the answers to our problems. Many of our species, you know, are truly struggling and we need to find solutions to the challenges that we face. I mean, koalas are a perfect example, with Chlamydia disease causing massive problems. We need to find answers for that. Through having an onsite dedicated research facility, we can really drive that research and come up with solutions. 

JOURNALIST: When do you anticipate that this facility will be operational? 

PYNE: Look we're really looking 2027, before it's expected to be operational. But this facility is fully designed. It is ready to go. So, you know, we can push ahead now and get things started. But it is a decent build. It's a tricky location, but, yeah, we'll have it done as soon as possible. 

JOURNLIAST: Is $8 million enough to build this centre? 

PYNE: We've got contribution from the Queensland State Government of $4 million and from the City of Gold Coast of $2 million as well. So there will be philanthropic support as well. And you know, together, that's going to get it over the line. 

JOURNALIST: What do you envision this facility will look like inside? Aside from four walls. 

PYNE: Well we've got pictures to show you that, but look the facility will attach to the current hospital, so it will link together, but it will be standalone. And the research facility will have its own space. The education facility will have its own space, and it will, I guess, enhance the service we're able to provide for wildlife. 

JOURNALIST: With the education facility, is that for you to bring through schools or other groups to education? 

PYNE: The education facility will really allow us to educate, not only students, but we'll be able to provide small conferences to other wildlife vets. We'll be able to educate the community, you know, we can really spread what we know, bring others in with other skill sets to share their knowledge. So it'll be a real opportunity to, I guess, spread that information on wildlife to anyone that can come. 

JOURNALIST: Just wanted to get information or an update on the $74 million environmental recovery funding for ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Do you know how those funds will be allocated? Because I understand 18 councils are eligible for that. Gold Coast councils say it's going to cost $30 million to recover our beaches, and they're hoping that a lot of this funding will cover these costs. 

MCBAIN: We have a partnership with the Queensland State Government, so it's a 50/50 cost sharing arrangement when it comes to disaster recovery, particularly from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The Queensland Government have put to us a range of things that they want to see funded through our contribution, and that is now being worked out through the Queensland Government. So the allocations to those 19 councils will be done through the State Government. 

JOURNALIST: Do you think that that $74 million will be divided evenly across those councils? 

MCBAIN: That's a question for the State Government. They'll be looking at how to best allocate money for recovery, and that is being led by Minister Anne Leahy.