The $100 million St Stephens Private Hospital development in Hervey Bay will create hundreds of jobs, providing diverse employment opportunities for professionals, together with many non-health care positions.

The project will attract and help retain high quality medical professionals and is expected to generate further expansion of medical services on the Fraser Coast.

St Stephens Hospitals, as part of UnitingCare Health, is developing the 96-bed inpatient facility, associated ancillary clinical services and the regional e-health initiative.

There will be ongoing employment with 200 jobs anticipated at the hospital initially, increasing to 300 when fully operational; and up to a further 100 jobs in the adjacent medical centre and ancillary services building.

Detailed design, in collaboration with key stakeholders and clinicians, will start before the end of July, with the contract and tender processes programmed for early 2012.

Construction is expected to start in March-May 2012, with completion in late 2013 or early 2014.