KOALA laws have been blamed for the state government canning plans to build a $14 million long-term mental health facility for adolescents at Redland Hospital.

The centre was to be built in Cleveland to cater for patients after the closure of the Barrett Adolescent Psychiatric Centre at Wacol in January.

But in December 2012, the government decided not to proceed with building a replacement facility in Redland, forcing patients to find alternative places of care.

Since the Barrett Centre's closure this year, three former patients, all aged under 25, have committed suicide.

Their parents blamed the lack of a designated facility for their children's deaths.

Families were told similar community mental health services would be provided "closer to the patients' homes" and two beds were available at the Mater Hospital in South Brisbane.

Health documents show the government was warned a "tier-3" care facility such as the Barrett Centre was essential.

But a Queensland Health Department spokesman told Redland City Bulletin plans for such a facility in Cleveland were abandoned as far back as 2010.

"The project encountered significant time delays due to site designation and koala management issues in late 2010, pushing out timelines for completion by up to two years," the spokesman said.

"Additionally, the project was expected to carry a major capital budget overspend with the original capital budget blowing out from $10.3 million to $17.6 million.

"At the time of cancelling the project in November 2012, there had still been no approval to build on the Cleveland site."

Queensland Health said the $14 million was redirected into other projects including $2 million for Queensland Children's Hospital's rehabilitation and care services for adolescents.

Queensland Health Department spokesman Dr William Kingswell ruled out Redlands for a mental health facility for adolescents, when he was in Redland Bay last month for the opening of an adult mental health facility.

Dr Kingswell said the Redland Bay community care unit was designed to provide services for adults requiring longer term rehabilitation and unsuitable for younger patients.

Queensland Health said there were replacement services for adolescents at Mobile Outreach Services at seven hospital and health services.

There were also plans for a day program to start in the Child and Adolescent Unit of the Royal Children's Hospital along with the beds at the Mater, and in residential centres in Cairns and Greenslopes.