Strong Plan delivers for Toowoomba and the Downs

The 2014-15 State Budget continues to deliver a strong plan for a brighter future for all of Queensland, including the Darling Downs region.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the budget outlined the Government’s plan to secure Queensland’s finances by making the strongest and smartest choice to reduce debt.

“It carefully balances increases in education, health and community services spending, while not raising taxes or reducing services,” Mr Nicholls said.

“We are also making the strongest and smartest choice to secure our finances so we can reduce debt and reinvest funds into the schools, hospitals and infrastructure that we know our regions are going to need.

“I’m especially pleased to announce today that I have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government ensuring funding for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.

“The budget includes the State Government’s share of funding for the $1.6 billion project.

“The formal expressions of interest document for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will also be released to the market tomorrow.

“This year’s budget includes a capital spend of almost $900 million in the Downs region alone.

“We’re also providing $192.4 million for local government recovery and reconstruction projects in the region, in partnership with the Federal Government.”

Mr Nicholls said the Queensland Government was delivering a record $13.6 billion health budget, an increase of 6 per cent from last year.

“We’re providing $2 million for the expansion of the endoscopy unit at Toowoomba Hospital,         $6 million towards Toowoomba Hospital’s replacement kitchen and $500,000 for the establishment of magnetic resonance imaging services at Toowoomba Hospital,” he said.

“Pittsworth residents will also benefit from the $2.5 million allocation to build a replacement ambulance station.”

Mr Nicholls said education on the Darling Downs was one of the big winners in this year’s budget.

“The budget includes an allocation of 761 additional teachers and teacher aides state-wide, as part of the total $11.8 billion education budget,” he said.

“We’re spending $11 million to help schools in the Downs prepare for the transition of Year 7 into high school next year.”

“We’re also providing $23 million for the construction of a new secondary school at Highfields.”

Mr Nicholls said the Queensland Government was also investing in the region’s roads network.

“We’re providing more than $50 million towards the regional roads network as part of round three of the Royalties for the Region’s program. This includes $25.7 million towards the construction of the Toowoomba CBD ring road,” he said.

“There is funding of $24.5 million to improve the Warrego Highway between Toowoomba and Miles, delivered in partnership with the Federal Government.

“In the Lockyer Valley, we’re spending $6.6 million this year on the upgrade of the Gatton-Esk Road.”

The 2014-15 State Budget also provides funding to improve smaller communities in the greater Darling Downs region. This includes:

• $125,000 to construct an aquatic facility at Gatton
• $1.2 million to complete the replacement auxiliary fire and rescue station at Pittsworth.
• $2.4 million for the development of the Chinchilla Multi-Tenant Service Centre
• $1 million to complete the upgrade of the Chinchilla police station
• $2.3 million to the Western Downs Regional Council to complete a range of projects, including the redevelopment of the Dalby Saleyards, the waste and recycling centre at Miles, the potable water treatment plant in Warra and the flood mitigation study in Chinchilla
• $5.9 million to upgrade sewerage and water infrastructure in Roma
• $1.8 million to reduce flood hazard to residential and commercial buildings in Toowoomba.

Mr Nicholls said the budget was another step forward in the Government’s positive plan for the state.

“We are making significant progress in restoring our finances, growing a four pillar economy, revitalising frontline services and funding infrastructure projects,” he said.

“But to sustain this we must reduce debt so we can truly keep building on our strong plan for a brighter future.”

[ENDS] 3 June 2014

Media Contact – Treasurer’s Office 07 3719 7200