Deb Frecklington
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington

June 5, 2013

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington says the 2013-14 State Budget handed down last night has focused on economic growth, rebuilding and making the South Burnett more resilient.

Mrs Frecklington said it was a sensible budget which delivered “good investment on frontline services such as health, education, public housing and road infrastructure”.

“I am really pleased to see that the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service District, of which the South Burnett is a part, will receive a 5.1 per cent increase in funding this year,” she said.

“This includes nearly $2 million for the upgrade of facilities at Kingaroy Hospital, an expansion of the “Mums and Bubs” initiative and the commencement of construction of a Mental Health Community Facility at Toowoomba Hospital.

“Works will also continue at the new Kingaroy Ambulance Station, with a further $2 million in this Budget to complete the project.

“Our local Kingaroy State High School is also benefitting from an injection of $2.791 million to build new classrooms to prepare for the move of Grade 7 to high school.

“It’s good to know that significant funds have been set aside for reconstruction and resilience projects following the recent floods. Across the state $4.2 billion is funding is allocated to help rebuild, with nearly $32 million for the South Burnett Regional Council.

“Roads are also a focus, with more than $15 million in works planned for our South Burnett state and local road network; $1 million of this is for traffic lights at the Markwell/Kingaroy street intersections and the Henry/Drayton Street intersections.”

Other key Budget items which Mrs Frecklington said would directly benefit the South Burnett include:

  • $8.641 for South Burnett disability, child safety and social inclusion services, including accommodation, respite, emergency response and the school leavers and community care program
  • $16 million over two years to help implement the Queensland Agriculture Strategy
  • $2 million to protect strategic cropping land for an agricultural land audit to identify current and future food production areas plus $4.5 million to continue upgrading the department’s research and operational facilities
  • $7 million for regional tourism organisations state-wide as well as an additional $15 million to drive visitation across the State
  • $162,000 for the libraries across the South Burnett to fund resources
  • Significant investment in public housing to upgrade public rental properties, community housing and indigenous housing
  • $93 million in rehabilitation, dragline overhaul, equipment replacement and the Black Creek Diversion project at Meandu Mine and Tarong Power Station
  • $2 billion for the Queensland Police Service across the State to revitalise frontline services, including 267 new police officers, $38 million for new police vehicles and $1 million to revitalise Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Stoppers programs.