June 16, 2021
by Anne Miller
There’s not many surprises for the South Burnett in the Budget handed down on Tuesday by Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick.
But southburnett.com.au has scoured through the handouts and here’s what we’ve found:
- In Murgon, $250,000 has been allocated to upgrade the old Nurses Quarters for use by community and allied health services.
- Although no funding has been earmarked for widening the dangerous single-lane section of Mundubbera-Durong Road, construction will start on the replacement to the John Peterson Bridge over the Boyne River. This jointly funded State / Federal Government project will receive $8.6 million out of the projected total cost of $25 million.
- $409,000 has been set aside for a $900,000 project to upgrade the Bunya Mountains National Park visitor information centre.
- Businessman Joe Prendergast’s multi-million tourism development at Moffatdale received a tranche of $1.8 million (out of a total $4.5 million) from the Growing Tourism Infrastructure program to expand tourism accommodation facilities in the region. This project was unveiled at a Murgon Business and Development Association get-together last December. At the time, Mr Prendergast – who also owns Joe’s Grand Hotel in Goomeri – said the $6 million development would be built in stages on a block next to Dusty Hill Wines. Plans included a brewery, distillery, underground cellar, 10-room motel and accommodation cottages.
- Kingaroy State High School has been allocated $252,000 towards a $932,000 project to upgrade skills development and training facilities.
- Meandu Mine ($50.1 million) and Tarong Power Station ($31.9 million) also received their annual Budget allocations. Meandu’s funding includes $5.2 million for a truck and shovel replacement program and $14.5 million for dozer replacement. Tarong’s projects include $4.2 million to replace generator stators, another $3.4 million towards the ash take-off project and $948,000 to upgrade control systems.
- Kingaroy Hospital – as expected – will receive another $8.4 million towards its total $92.5 million redevelopment. Overall, Darling Downs Health’s operating budget will be $937.18 million, up $35.82 million from 2020-21.
Download: Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program for 2021–22 to 2024-25: Wide Bay Burnett (1.1Mb PDF)
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