June 5, 2013

The South Burnett has enjoyed a few wins from the 2013 Queensland State Budget.

As expected, $2 million was allocated for the completion of the Kingaroy Ambulance Station project, however a bonus was the announcement of $2.791 million for the construction of new classrooms at Kingaroy State High School.

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said the classrooms were needed as the school was “over-populated”.

She said that with the number of prep students in the area, this situation would continue unless new classrooms were made available.

On November 12 last year, southburnett.com.au reported that on Day 8 of the 2012 school year Kingaroy State High School was at 101 per cent capacity, one of 40 Queensland schools “over capacity”.

Also in the Budget, just over $1.7 million has been allocated to Kingaroy Hospital to upgrade facilities, and $612,000 for an upgrade of the Gordonbrook Dam water treatment plant.

And allocations for major roads projects throughout the region – many of them previously announced – were confirmed.

Mrs Frecklington said there was also more assistance announced for indigenous and public rental housing within the Nanango electorate.

Yallakool Tourist Park would benefit from $100,000 set aside for a new amenities block.

Mrs Frecklington said the local economy should also receive a boost from the allocation of funds for overhauls of Unit 1 at Tarong North and Unit 3 at Tarong power stations.

Some of the Budget highlights for the South Burnett included:

‘A No-Frills Budget’

Treasurer Tim Nicholls, above, described the Budget as a “no-frills, no-nonsense” Budget which would foster economic growth.

The Budget forecast growth for the State of 3 per cent in 2013-14.

“That’s second only, in state terms, to Western Australia and above the national average of 2.75 per cent,” Mr Nicholls said.

Mr Nicholls said there had been many hard decisions.

“Revenue forecasts have fallen by $5.3 billion since the government was elected last year,” he said.

“This Budget includes a write-down in general taxation and royalties of $1.9 billion and a decrease of more than $695 million in GST payments over the forward estimates. For the 2013-14 year the government will record a fiscal deficit of $7.7 billion.

“Given the loss of revenue, the current deficit, the rebuilding task and the need to fund new services we’ve made a balanced decision to delay reaching a fiscal surplus in 2014-15.”

Mr Nicholls said the decline in revenue meant the government had to look at some increases in revenue measures.

These included:

  • Increasing the rate of duty on general insurance products to 9 per cent from August 1, 2013
  • Expanding the Urban Fire Levy to become an Emergency Management, Fire and Rescue levy to be levied on all properties that receive a rates notice from January 1, 2014
  • Deferring the next increase in the payroll tax threshold by two years to July 1, 2015.

Roads

  • $2.019m for the widening of the Chinchilla-Wondai Road and $247,000 for pavement repairs
  • $7.5m for the replacement of the Bum Bum Creek bridge and approaches on the New England Highway just south of Cooyar
  • $6.2m upgrade of the Dalby-Cooyar Road
  • $2.76m on the Kilcoy-Murgon Road
  • $822,000 to complete construction of the new overtaking lane on the D’Aguilar Highway near Lucas Road at Coolabunia
  • $3.3m for repairs and improvements on the D’Aguilar Highway between Yarraman and Kingaroy
  • $1.4m for pavement repairs on sections of the Burnett Highway between Nanango and Goomeri, and $6.32m for continuing repairs between Goomeri and Gayndah
  • $1.9m for pavement repairs and widening of sections of the Bunya Highway between Kingaroy and Dalby; and $3.07m for similar work between Kingaroy and Goomeri
  • $923,000 for repairs, widening and sealing of two sections of Kilkivan-Tansey Road
  • $209,000 allocation to complete work on the Mundubbera-Durong Road
  • $362,000 to construct a new sealed two-lane section of the Memerambi-Barkers Creek Road
  • $165,000 to widen a section of the Blackbutt-Crows Nest Road
  • Allocations of $476,000 have been approved for 2014-15 to widen a section of the Kumbia-Brooklands Road; and $257,000 to raise a bridge on the Gayndah-Hivesville Road

As well, traffic lights will be installed at Markwell Street / Kingaroy Street intersection in Kingaroy ($500,000) and at the Henry Street / Drayton Street intersection in Nanango ($500,000).

Approved expenditure of $100,000 in 2013-14 and $300,000 in 2014-15 has been allocated to reshaping and sealing 790m of the Maidenwell-Bunya Mountains Road.

* * *

Tarong Power Stations & Meandu Mine

  • $29.6m for mine fleet equipment replacement
  • $8.1m for mine exploration and development
  • $1.6m for mine rehabilitation work
  • 2.4m for the dragline overhaul
  • $24m for Tarong power station projects, including $2.9m for an overhaul of Unit 3, and $6.1m for the Black Creek Diversion project
  • $13.9m for Tarong North power station, including $8.4m for the overhaul of Unit 1

* * *

Health

  • $1.718m for the improvement and upgrade of facilities at Kingaroy Hospital, including an upgrade of fire and electrical safety

Overall, the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service – which is responsible for the South Burnett area – received a 5.1 per cent increase in funding; ie $568.3 million, up $27.4 million on its 2012-13 operating budget.

2013-14 Queensland Budget Documents:

[UPDATED June 5, 2013]