June 13, 2024
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington says she cannot believe how bad the State Budget is for the South Burnett.
She said that after scouring through the Budget Papers there was absolutely no funding for local projects that desperately needed funding, such as roads, health services or water infrastructure.
“I can safely say this is the worst State Budget for the Nanango Electorate I have ever seen,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“In fact, all I could find was a big battery and a wind farm.
“Starting with roads, not one project to fix the bad roads and bad bridges has been funded.
“The seriously dangerous Tanduringie Creek Bridge, where a school bus nearly collided with a truck a few years ago, has again not been funded for upgrade.
“And the funding for GS Bond Bridge on the Chinchilla-Wondai Road remains missing in action, held up in copious amounts of red tape.
“I also really wanted to see a commitment to opening the Kingaroy Hospital Short Stay Unit, however it has been overlooked.
“This unit could take so much pressure off our Emergency Department and in-patient ward at the Hospital, and it needs to be opened.
“There’s no funding for a paediatrician to be based at the Kingaroy Hospital, or a cancer care nurse.
“I will not give up on achieving these vital services for my community.
“When it comes to supporting our emergency services, this is another great disappointment.
“Blackbutt police officers will have to spend another year working out of the tiny, decrepit Blackbutt Police Station; a station which is no longer fit-for-purpose and poses a safety risk for the officers who work there.
“There’s also no funding for a new Kingaroy Fire Station.
“After I visited the station recently, I promised our local firies that I will back their fight to secure a new facility to replace the outdated building that has no capacity for the 24/7 staffing that will be implemented shortly.
“Our community also deserves investment in long-term solutions for water security.
“Key projects like the Barlil Weir and Blackbutt Irrigation Scheme are being completely ignored by this government.
“These projects are my priority because they are the priorities of my local community.
“There are less than 150 days until the next election and I will continue to advocate for the services and infrastructure the people of the Nanango Electorate deserve.”
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