Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, says her request for a briefing on the future impacts on the Somerset community of the potential raising of the Wivenhoe Dam wall has fallen on deaf ears.
Mrs Frecklington said she immediately wrote to the Minister for Energy and Water after learning via the media of the possibility of the wall being raised, but no briefing was offered.
“The response I have received from the Minister is unacceptable. I had specifically requested a briefing, however, all I received were fact sheets,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“It is obvious this Labor Minister has no clue that an announcement like this has significant impacts on landholders above the dam wall.
“I’ve been told that consultation with stakeholders won’t take place until later this year. It is just not okay that people will be left hanging for so long, they need answers now.
“As I have previously said, while I understand the need for safety upgrades to Wivenhoe Dam, the way this is being handled shows once again this Labor Government doesn’t consider regional communities when making decisions. They talk about openness and accountability, yet here is an example of this definitely not occurring.
“This is completely different to how our former LNP Government handled this issue. In 2014 we announced scoping studies to investigate flood mitigation options and we immediately started consulting and including the community,” she said.
“I once again call on the Minister to immediately start communicating with landholders who may be affected by the possibility of the Wivenhoe Dam wall being raised,” Deb said.
It was smiles all round when winners of Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington’s ‘Local Hero Grants’ were officially presented with their ‘big cheque’.
Mrs Frecklington congratulated two of the Round Two winners, the Kumbia QCWA and Nanango local, Jae Clark.
“My Local Hero Grants Program is designed to help support local community groups and individuals across the Nanango Electorate, and provide an opportunity to show my support, thanks and appreciation for all our hardworking volunteer groups who make such a difference for our community,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Kumbia QCWA will use their $250 to help purchase a water pump for their premises, making it much easier to source water for the kitchen and washroom hand basin.
“Jae’s grant will help him travel and take part in a State Competition for karate. I’m looking forward to hearing how he went on his return.
“The third local recipients of the Local Hero Grant were Daniel Price and Josaiah Okesene to help them represent Australia for Futsal in their respective tours of the United Kingdom, Scotland and Malaysia. The boys are currently overseas, so I looking forward to catching up with them in a few weeks.
"In the Somerset, the grant was awarded to 'Nuts and Bolts' who run a mental health support group in Kilcoy. The group raises awareness of current mental health issues and concerns and provides support for people in the region," Deb said.
Round Three of Deb’s Local Hero Grants are now open, with a closing date of 31 August.
“I would like to encourage more local groups to apply. The next round closes on 31 August, so there’s plenty of time to send through a submission. There are three rounds each year and four successful applicants from around the Nanango Electorate are selected in each round.
If you would like to apply, please go to Deb’s website at www.debfrecklington.com.au or contact the Electorate office on 4190 7100.
Photo: Deb presenting the $250 Local Hero Grant to Kumbia QCWA President, Catherine Woodham and Nanango local, Jae Clarke.
New figures show the Wide Bay region is in the midst of a jobs crisis, with the youth unemployment rate now as high as 24.7 per cent.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said the current government had let down
South Burnett jobseekers, who were clearly falling behind under this do nothing government.
“Our youth unemployment rate is now 24.7 per cent, and over the last year this has only been getting worse. It’s now 5.3 per cent higher than it was 12 months ago,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“There are now 1000 fewer young people from the Wide Bay region with a job than there was 12 months ago.
“The youth unemployment rate would be even higher if not for the huge number of young people in the South Burnett who have simply given up looking for work because they’ve lost hope.”
Mrs Frecklington said Queensland continued to lead the nation in job losses under the Palaszczuk Government and that Labor had no plan to address this alarming slide.
“Labor has done nothing in over two years to help jobseekers, but the LNP has a plan to get young Queenslanders working.
“The LNP has a comprehensive $100 million package aimed at getting young Queenslanders back into work so we can build a better Queensland.
“Our plan includes $5,000 Queensland Apprenticeship incentive for small business; $500 Tools for Tradies vouchers; a $4,000 Job Start Incentive; together with discounts on Work Cover premiums for small business.
“Only the LNP can restore business confidence and get investment flowing to create jobs throughout all of Queensland.”
New ABS figures highlight the extent of the youth jobs crisis facing many regions in Queensland under the do-nothing Palaszczuk Labor Government.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said almost two thirds of Queensland’s regions had lost youth jobs in the past year.
“Many parts of the state, particularly regional Queensland, are facing a youth unemployment crisis under Queensland Labor,” Mr Emerson said.
“To think that youth unemployment in Outback Queensland is higher than 40 per cent is a crying shame and a terrible indictment on Annastacia Palaszczuk’s leadership.
“The latest ABS figures show the number of young Queenslanders with a job has fallen by 11,500 in the last year - the worst fall in Australia. **
“Queensland should be leading the nation in job creation and job security but sadly under this government we are coming dead last.
“These job losses are being felt across many parts of Queensland, with the eastern and western parts of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Logan-Beaudesert all hardest hit.”
Jobs losses experienced in the regions in the last year include:
The youth unemployment rate is above 20 per cent in the following regions:
“Unlike Labor, who has done nothing in over two years, the LNP has a plan to get young Queenslanders working,” Mr Emerson said.
“Our plan includes a $5,000 Queensland Apprenticeship incentive for small business; $500 Tools for Tradies vouchers; a $4,000 Job Start Incentive; together with discounts on Work Cover premiums for small business.
“Only the LNP can restore business confidence and get investment flowing to create jobs throughout all of Queensland.”
The Liberal National Party will call for registrations of interest for up to two regional casino licences within the first 100 days of winning office to attract jobs and investment into regional communities neglected under Annastacia Palaszczuk.
LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow State Development Minister Deb Frecklington said the Regional Integrated Resort Development started under the LNP had hopelessly stalled under Annastacia Palaszczuk.
She said the registration of interest process would be the first step to a potential expressions of interest stage and request for detailed proposal stage with construction starting within 18 months of contractual close.
“Queensland is stagnating, the community is crying out for leadership and we have a government stuck in neutral,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Developers are extremely interested in building a world-class Integrated Resort Development (IRD) in Regional Queensland but Labor won’t give them a chance.
“Queensland is missing out on billions of dollars of investment and thousands of job opportunities because Labor can’t make a decision.”
Ms Frecklington, announcing the policy in Yeppoon today, said one of the two casino licences would be reserved exclusively for Central and North Queensland if the LNP was successful at the next state election.
“Let’s not forget the $8.5 billion Aquis project fell over under Labor’s watch despite all the hand-shaking for the cameras from Curtis Pitt,” she said.
“Unfortunately for North Queensland, and especially Cairns, Labor hasn’t bothered to do anything about a casino licence since it lost the Aquis deal despite saying on March 16, 2016 it would.
“Labor’s criteria has stifled the development of an IRD in Regional Queensland because of the requirement the regional casino be located within 70km of a major population centre with a catchment of at least 150,000 people.
“A future LNP government would drop Labor’s unfair criteria surrounding minimum population and proximity to an international airport.”
Ms Frecklington said Labor’s Mulgrave MP and so-called Treasurer Curtis Pitt had completely failed Far North Queenslanders when it came to this once-in-a-generation job creating project.
“Curtis Pitt pledged in January, 2015 that he would do everything in his power to ensure the project got over the line and delivering the project would be a priority for him,” she said.
“He also stated a few months later in April, 2015 he would “fast-track” and “speed-up” the necessary approvals required to get the $8.5bn mega resort over the line.
“But we now know that Aquis walked away from the multi-billion dollar project under Curtis Pitt’s watch.
“A multi-billion project of that size and scale would have gone along way at reducing the shocking unemployment and youth unemployment rates in Cairns that have skyrocketed under Annastacia Palaszczuk and Curtis Pitt’s watch.”
Ms Frecklington said the LNP’s criteria for a regional IRD proposal is it must enhance the state’s tourism industry and make Queensland attractive to overseas investors.
“The LNP’s Integrated Resorts Developments policy for Regional Queensland will build a better tourism industry and create thousands of construction and tourism jobs,” she said.
“It will provide significant economic benefits to Regional Queensland including jobs and opportunities for local businesses during construction and operations.
“Labor’s softly, softly approach is failing Queenslanders - doing nothing is not working.
“Instead of leading the way in job creation and job security, we are falling behind the other states under Annastacia Palaszczuk’s watch.”
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has called on the Minister for Energy and Water, Mark Bailey, to explain why a major upgrade of Wivenhoe Dam, including the raising of the Dam Wall, was announced via media.
“It is extremely disappointing for residents and property owners above the Wivenhoe Dam Wall to have learned that there are plans now in place to raise the Dam Wall by four metres,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“This will have a significant impact on my community and I find it unacceptable that the plans have been announced via media, without a single minute of consultation with the affected community.
“While I understand the need for safety upgrades it shows once again this Labor Government doesn’t consider regional communities when making decisions. They talk about openness and accountability, yet here is an example of this definitely not occurring.
“This is completely different to how our former LNP Government handled this issue. In 2014 we announced scoping studies to investigate flood mitigation options and we immediately started consulting and including the community. In 2015 I wrote to the Minister for Energy and Water twice to ask if the scoping studies would proceed under the Palaszczuk Government, as well as lodging a Question on Notice through Parliament.
“Each answer I received was vague, but we understood all scoping studies were on hold and the community have received no information since early 2015 from the Palaszczuk Government about their intentions.
“I have requested an immediate briefing with the Minister to express the concerns firstly about the potential impacts on surrounding landholders, and secondly how incompetently this has been handled,” Deb said.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has congratulated local businesses who have secured contracts to work on the refurbishment of the Kingaroy Courthouse.
Mrs Frecklington said seventeen local businesses will provide services to the main contractor, FKG Group throughout the construction period.
“I caught up with FKG Group to discuss the works that have now begun and I also spoke with two of the sub-contractors, Fiedler Bros Plumbing and Wards Electrical about the importance of this project to the local economy,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Funding for the upgrade of the Kingaroy Courthouse was announced under our former LNP Government in 2014 and it is a shame it has taken this Labor Government two years to get it underway.
“However, now the works have finally started, it will not only help improve the frontline delivery of justice services in the region, but will also provide an economic injection for local tradespeople and the wider community.
“This is why local infrastructure projects are so important, not only to improve our services, but to ensure economic growth.
Owner and Director of Wards Electrical, Mr Alan Rowen, says the benefits of local sub-contractors receiving the work will flow throughout the town.
“Our suppliers are local, so securing this contract will see benefits go to other businesses as well,” Mr Rowen said.
Fielder Bros co-owner, Todd Fiedler, congratulated FKG Group on making a definite choice to work with locally based sub-contractors.
“Right from the beginning FKG Group said they wanted to work with local contractors and they have stuck to this promise,” Mr Fiedler said.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington with contractors working on the refurbishment of the Kingaroy Courthouse. From l to r, Ray Patroni (Wards Electrical), Justin Wann (FKG Group), Brennan Trace (FKG Group), Todd Fiedler (Fiedler Bros Pluming) and Alan Rowen (Wards Electrical).
A meeting of LNP Members from Wondai and Murgon on Tuesday 29th March at the Murgon RSL has seen the formation of a new ‘LNP Barambah Branch’.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, along with Member for Callide, Jeff Seeney attended the meeting and said it’s great to see a new branch in the area.
“It’s really exciting to have an enthusiastic and progressive new LNP Branch formed to represent the Wondai/Murgon area,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“It was great to see everyone is very keen to step up support for the next state election and planning has already started for some events.
“I’m looking forward to working with the Barambah Branch as the boundary redistribution means my Nanango Electorate now takes in this region.
“I’ve already started visiting businesses in Wondai and Murgon and over the next few months I hope to catch up with more people and get to know the issues of this region,” Deb said.
The new committee for the LNP Barambah Branch is:
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington LNP Barambah Branch President, Jason Kinsella (r) and Secretary/Treasurer, Geoff Kinsella.
