Budget 'Positives' For South Burnett

June 4, 2014

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington says there are definite positives in the State Budget for the South Burnett area – including a new $8.3 million police station for Kingaroy.

$2.9 million for the project has been allocated in the 2014-15 Budget but the project has been fully funded in forward estimates and a completion date has been fixed.

Mrs Frecklington said she was “genuinely puzzled” by the negativity surrounding the announced asset sales.

She accused critics of the projected sales of Stanwell and the Meandu coal mine of “buying into the Electrical Trades Union rhetoric” and said it “doesn’t have to be negative” for the region.

Mrs Frecklington told southburnett.com.au the State Government had been very upfront about a possible sale of the assets for some time.

She said taxpayers were happy the government was using their money wisely, the sales would release capital that could be spent in the South Burnett on a range of other projects, and she did not accept that privatisation would automatically lead to job losses.

Mrs Frecklington also said the $8.6 billion announced for the new Strong Choices Investment Program was a “conservative” figure.

She said another positive for the region in the State Budget was the announcement of a new $3.5 million Recreational Rail Trails Grant program, which she would be urging the South Burnett Regional Council to approach to assist with the planned Murgon to Kingaroy rail trail.

This tourism project was derailed at the last Federal Election when support promised by the Labor Government in its dying days was left unfunded.

An obvious omission from the State Budget was any mention of an upgrade to the Kingaroy Hospital however Mrs Frecklington said this had not been forgotten and was still a major priority for both her and Health Minister Lawrence Springborg.

“We have already had planning done in relation to a new South Burnett hospital,” she said.

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The long-awaited – and much-needed – upgrade of the Kingaroy Police Station and adjoining watchhouse can begin with $2.9 million allocated towards the $8.3m project in Tuesday’s State Budget.

As well, $630,000 has also be allocated towards a planned million-dollar upgrade of Nanango Police Station.

Other South Burnett projects to be funded, some already under way, are:

$118,000 to complete a lighting and security project and to upgrade flood drainage in Cherbourg

$463,000 to complete the upgrade of Gordonbrook Water Treatment Plant, build a new amenities block at Yallakool Tourist Park and provide streetscaping in Nanango

$2m to complete the $6.3m Year 7 building at Kingaroy State High School

$5.2m to construct a new 1.2km overtaking lane on the D’Aguilar Highway between Yarraman and Kingaroy

$4.49m for reconstruction works on the Burnett Highway between Goomeri and Gayndah

$2.53m for reconstruction works on the Bunya Highway between Kingaroy and Goomeri

$10m to upgrade the Kingaroy wastewater treatment plant “to meet increased demand from the resources sector”.

$148m for upgrades at Meandu Mine and Tarong Power Station

$565,000 towards a $1 million project to replace the bridge over Stuart River on the Kumbia-Brooklands Road

$1.125m for a new overtaking lane north of Wooroolin on the Bunya Highway

$555,000 for non-government organisations to deliver specialist homelessness services

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The 2015 centenary of the Gallipoli landing hasn’t been forgotten by the State Government.

The 2014-15 Budget papers show a total of $49.3 million has been allocated over six years to commemorate the Anzac Centenary.

The papers note that the World War I commemoration will be an important opportunity for Queenslanders to remember all servicemen and women who have served the nation, the 102,729 people who gave their lives in that service, and the important contribution from and impact upon those on the home front.

The money will fund “enduring legacy project assets”, milestone commemorative events and a grants program.

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