Treasurer Jackie Trad has hailed her big spending budget however it looks geared to shoring up votes on the coast rather than addressing chronic underfunding of the North West.
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Ms Trad said the 2018-19 Budget – her first as Treasurer and the Palaszczuk government’s fourth - was investing almost $45.8b in infrastructure over four years but there is precious little west of the Divide.
In line with increased spending on health across the state, the annual North West Health Board budget is going up from $702m to $782m but there wasn’t much to get excited about in the Regional Action Plan for Outback Queensland.
Roads and emergency services were among the explicit few winners though there will be further funding in the Work for Queensland and Building Our Regions programs.
There is $13m to continue sealing the Kennedy Developmental Road between The Lynd to Hughenden due for completion in March 2020 with support from the Federal Government while $3.3m goes to the Flinders Highway culvert upgrades between Charters Towers and Hughenden.
North West emergency services gets $2m to replace the Mount Isa Queensland Fire and Emergency Services area office to co-locate Fire and Rescue, Rural Fire and SES facilities while $1.2m will go to replace the Richmond auxiliary fire station.
There is $1.8m for the provision of staff accommodation for Mornington Island Hospital.
There is $2m towards water facilities at Lake Julius and Lake Moondarra though the end users will pay for this.
There is a welcome $1.2m for the Normanton to Karumba Optic Fibre Link and there is $251,748 towards a water park playground in Doomadgee, $200,000 to plan and design economic infrastructure at Mica Creek and $157,000 for Mount Isa City Council to begin procurement of diesel backup functionality supporting potable water supply.
The Mount Isa Hockey Association Inc were winners getting $113,095 to upgrade an amenities block including toilets and showers to support participation in hockey.
Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said it was a Brisbane budget.
“There’s a few things for us and the Work for Queensland and Building Our Regions programs are always welcomed by councils but they are sugar hits,” Mr Katter said.
“The big items like dams still aren’t funded.”