The Qld State Budget was handed down on 21 June and unfortunately it has not delivered for the people of the Nanango Electorate. In relation to roads funding (or should I say the absence of roads funding), there are some calculations I wanted to share with you.
For the entire of the South Burnett, an area of 8,382 square kilometres, just 5.7% of the Wide Bay Burnett region roads TMR budget has been assigned to roads in this area.
And for the Somerset it’s even worse. Just 2.6% of the North Coast region TMR roads budget has been allocated to Somerset roads. Let’s put that into perspective… the Somerset area is half of the entire North Coast district area – and it gets just 2.6% of the funding.
In fact, the whole of the Nanango Electorate area has been completely overlooked and once again our regional communities will have to continue to put up with a third class road system. This State Budget continues the Labor Government’s chronic neglect of our regional road upgrades and maintenance.
There is no new funding for our major highways like the Burnett, Wide Bay or Bunya Highways. And in the Somerset, no new funding for the D’Aguilar or Brisbane Valley Highway. I am bitterly disappointed that once again the seriously dangerous Tanduringie Creek Bridge and the Running Creek Bridge still have no funding prospects. Over the past year I have continued to advocate for funding for key roads projects - but the following remain unfunded:
Labor really needs to start looking at our regional areas and the huge opportunities we have here.
But it needs backing with better roads, better health services, and less red and green tape for our primary producers and small business.
I had hoped to see funding for important projects like the flood gauges for the Boonara Creek, the Barlil Weir or upgrades to the Scrub Creek Causeway. In relation to health, I will continue to advocate for a full-time Paediatrician, a Specialist Cancer Nurse, Telestroke and a Persistent Pain Clinic for the South Burnett.
And I support my colleague, the Member for Gympie Tony Perrett and his slamming of the budget for not funding any improvements to the Gympie Hospital, where members of my Gympie community must travel. I’ll continue to push for these issues on behalf of our community. For further information here is a link to my interview on Rural Queensland Today, and to my full speech in Parliament.
Photo: Going over the Budget Papers at Parliament.
