Mayors Message

WORDS: Tom Tate - Mayor PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

The Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct in Parkwood is rapidly becoming one of the best medical research facilities in the world.

In October, I joined the team from Southern RNA and its Canadian biotech partner Providence Therapeutics at the 200-hectare precinct. Seeing first-hand the work these groups are doing to create cutting-edge vaccines to treat cancers is truly amazing.

SouthernRNA is a new tenant at the precinct and its presence highlights how our city is maturing from core industries like tourism and hospitality to highly-skilled careers in medical research, robotics, Artificial Intelligence and 3D printing.

Across the precinct, 38,000 people study or work with medical research now worth $4.3 billion to our economy. Today, the precinct is where health, science, engineering and deep tech converge, making it the largest employer on the coast.

Together with the State Government, Gold Coast Health and Griffith University, the City has invested more than $5 billion into the precinct. Across a range of industries, the precinct enables collaboration between allied health facilities and research institutions. Major advancements are already being made in biotechnology and medical technologies – which brings me back to SouthernRNA.

This group is working to create cancer vaccines to offer children with brain cancer a better chance of surviving. Importantly these immunotherapies mean any vaccine can be delivered to the child-patient quicker, giving them far greater chance of recovery.

The next clinical trials are due to start in mid 2026 and will involve around 60 children suffering from brain cancer. Hearing this has touched my heart and I know millions of families across the world will be uplifted to learn of the incredible work underway at our precinct.

The precinct is a major economic driver for the coast with our Gross Regional Product (GRP) growing by almost 70 percent in the past 13 years ($30 billion in 2012-13 to $50 billion in 2025-26). The key to this growth has been diversifying our economy.

With 80,000 registered businesses, our job market remains strong and we are currently rolling out programs to attract investment in areas including space technology, six-star resorts, tertiary education and advanced manufacturing.

It’s a great time to be a Gold Coaster and we have a lot to feel proud of in this amazing city.

Tom Tate-Mayor