After more than a year of pressure, Lockyer Valley mayor Tanya Milligan has announced plans for the construction of a regional-sized hospital in the district.
The development would result in less patients travelling to Ipswich or Toowoomba for procedures that can be performed locally, and would allow women to give birth closer to home.
Councillor Milligan said data pointing to a significant population increase in the area over the next decade also demonstrates  need for the new hospital.