Council were awarded more than $572,000 of funding by the Department of Drought Communities Programme to assist with building the project.

The Wellbeing Centre will be positioned adjacent to the current clinic and will house several designated areas for health services identified by Council, Queensland Health and the community.

Boulia Shire CEO Lynn Moore said they envisage the centre to be a u-shaped building with the dialysis area to be at one end, a kitchen and toilets and a third area for training and general use. 

“The dialysis area will mean that residents will no longer have to travel to Mount isa. It’s a convenience to have these facilities in town,” Ms Moore said.

“We are currently in collaboration with Queensland Health regarding the outfitting of those rooms.”

There will also be a covered outdoor area between the buildings which we Council would like to see used as a relaxing social area. 

“A safe non-threatening space where general information can be exchanged in a peaceful setting.

“This is an important milestone for Boulia as the centre will become hub for communication between service providers and the residents in general which will support community expectations for health and wellbeing in to the future,” Ms Moore said.

The Council’s role will be to manage the project and on completion, they will hand over the facility to Queensland Health, who will be responsible for the ongoing management.

The project is expected to start in May this year and is anticipated to be completed by March 2019.

Ms Moore said the development of the centre would also provide an opportunity for employment for local contractors during the project.