A fresh start for the Wide Bay-Burnett in 2025-26 Budget

Queensland Budget delivers the foundation for a fresh start for the Wide Bay-Burnett with key community safety, health, road, water and energy initiatives.
A new Bundaberg Hospital, Hervey Bay Hospital expansion and Maryborough Hospital Essential Services Upgrade to be delivered under Hospital Rescue Plan.
$4.4 billion for the Paradise Dam rebuild, with new weirs on the Boyne River and Barambah Creek for water security, and investment into Mount Rawdon and Borumba pumped-hydro projects to deliver generational infrastructure for State’s future.
Delivering the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program to support Maryborough jobs.
Games On! initiatives to ensure Wide Bay- Burnett benefits from lasting legacy in 2032 and beyond, including for Burnett Bowls Club, Bundaberg Netball Association, Hervey Bay Bombers Football Club, and Gin Gin Athletics.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering for the Wide Bay-Burnett with major funding in the 2025-26 Queensland Budget for new and upgraded hospitals, fire stations, water security, community safety, pumped hydro and 2032 Games legacy projects.

The Wide Bay-Burnett will also benefit from the Crisafulli Government’s $100 Back to School Boost, the $200 Play On! Sports Vouchers Program, more frontline health workers, more police on the beat and new social and community housing.

2025-26 Budget lays the foundation for the fresh start Queenslanders voted for, addressing Labor’s youth crime, health, housing and cost of living crises.

The Budget focuses on making Queensland safer, delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, driving down cost of living pressures for families, providing more free healthcare and building generational infrastructure for our growing State.

As part of the Hospital Rescue Plan, Hervey Bay Hospital will be expanded, a new Bundaberg Hospital will be built, and essential services upgrades delivered at Maryborough Hospital.

Vital infrastructure is also being supported including $4.4 billion to deliver a new Paradise Dam wall to ensure safe and secure water supply, and to support economic growth in the region. The Budget also includes new Barlil and Cooranga weirs to improve water supply reliability.

To progress Mount Rawdon Pumped Hydro $50 million has been committed in 2025-26, delivering on the Government’s commitment to progress smaller, more manageable pumped hydro.

Progress is also continuing on environmental approvals and exploratory works for the Borumba Pumped Hydro project.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering safety where you live for the Wide Bay-Burnett, with the $28 million replacement of the police facility at Hervey Bay and a $7 million to complete the upgrade of the police facility at Maryborough.

Upgrades will also be delivered for the Bruce Highway around Maryborough with an overhaul of the Bruce Highway-Walker Street intersection and a new Tiaro Bypass.

In addition to the spending on key infrastructure and frontline services, $7.1 million will go to refurbish part of the Maryborough TAFE campus and operational costs for the Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, and $2 million upgrading amenities at One Mile State School.

Wide Bay Burnett will also benefit from the Queensland Government’s $100 Back to School Boost vouchers, the $200 Play On! Sports Vouchers Program, more frontline health workers, more police on the beat and new social and community housing.

Premier David Crisafulli said the Budget delivered the foundation for a fresh start for Wide Bay-Burnett, just as promised.

“Today’s Budget delivers the fresh start Queensland needs and Queenslanders voted for, to address the crises in youth crime, health, housing and cost of living,” Premier Crisafulli said.

“We are delivering to restore safety where you live, health services when you need them, a better lifestyle through a stronger economy and a plan for Queensland’s future.

“This Budget delivers cost of living relief with the $100 Back to School Boost and the $200 Play On! Sports Vouchers Program, a fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan, a new nation-leading home ownership program to reduce the deposit gap, as well more police and early intervention to make Queensland safer.”

Member for Maryborough John Barounis said the Crisafulli Government was delivering for Maryborough.

“We’re funding important upgrades, including $7.2 million to continue delivery of the rural fire area brigade headquarters at Maryborough and $7 million to complete the upgrade of the police facility at Maryborough, in this first Crisafulli Government Budget,” Mr Barounis said.

Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the Budget included a range of local initiatives to deliver for the Burnett region.

“Local sports and recreation clubs will receive Games On! upgrades to boost participation in grassroots sport, including $542,000 for upgrades at the Burnett Bowls Club, and $620,000 to upgrade facilities at the Bundaberg Netball Association,” Mr Bennett said.

Member for Callide Bryson Head said the Budget was delivering projects Labor had failed to.

“This Budget delivers for our community with funds to get on with rebuilding Paradise Dam, and support for our local clubs like the Gin Gin Athletics Club,” Mr Head said.

Member for Gympie Tony Perrett said the Budget prioritised community safety.

“This Budget will see the building of a new permanent fire and rescue station in Gympie South, develop a business case for the Glenwood Ambulance Station and provide the Gympie volunteer first aid services with a vehicle and defibrillator upgrade,” Mr Perrett said.

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said the Crisafulli Government’s first Budget delivered for the Nanango Electorate, from roads to regional resilience and recreational facilities.

“This Budget delivers vital planning work for Barlil Weir to provide water security for primary producers, and also funding for the Brisbane Valley Highway, which is another fantastic win for our region,” Ms Frecklington said.

“One of the smaller projects I’m also excited to deliver is $150,000 for the Wooroolin Skate Park, which the kids of Wooroolin have been campaigning for alongside me for many years.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Mel Wightman 0434 391 038

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Other projects funded in the 2025-26 Budget include:

Anzac Park, Maryborough - $2.7 million to install new LED pedestrian lighting and complete civil works along 2,800m of activity track.
Biggenden Rural Fire Brigade Station - $800,000 to upgrade the rural fire brigade station.
Brave Brothers Bundaberg - $142,000 for Brave Brothers to deliver Brave Place Safe Spaces and suicide awareness services.
Childers Multipurpose Health Service - Planning stage for the Childers Multipurpose Health Service.
Cooranga Weir – Planning to deliver a new weir to improve water supply reliability along the Boyne River.
Flood Damage Repairs at Tinana Hall - $195,000 to repair and restore walls, floors, ramp, electrical cabling, and kitchen at Tinana Hall.
Fraser Community Meals on Wheels - $25,000 for the service.
Games On! Bundaberg Netball Association - $620,000 to upgrade facilities.
Games On! Gin Gin Athletics Club - $25,000 for a facility upgrade.
Games On! Hervey Bay Bombers - $190,000 for certified night lights.
Games On! Wide Bay Sports Academy - $300,000 to support young local athletes aged 13-19 years excel in their chosen sport.
Gayndah State School - New covered access ramp to Block C.
Glenwood Ambulance Station Business Case.
Gympie South replacement permanent fire and rescue station - $7.5 million for the replacement station.
Gympie Volunteer First Aid Services - Delivering an ex-ambulance and defibrillator upgrade.
Impact Community Services - $1 million over four years into an academy for vulnerable youths.
Kingaroy replacement fire and rescue station - $2.5 million to acquire land for a permanent and auxiliary fire and rescue station.
Manufacturing Centre of Excellence - $7.1 million for a refurbishment.
Maryborough area rural fire brigade - $7.2 million for headquarters.
Maryborough police facility upgrade - $7 million for an upgrade.
New Bargara police facility - Commencing the new Bargara police facility.
New bus shelter – Morris Road, Toogoom - $40,000 to support Fraser Coast Regional Council to construct a new bus shelter.
One Mile State School - $2 million to upgrade amenities.
Salvation Army Maryborough - $150,000 towards renovations.
St Helens State School - $398,000 for School Playground and Tuckshop upgrades.
Urangan Pier rehabilitation works - $1.4 million to upgrade Urangan Pier.
Wide Bay Men's Sheds - Delivering upgrades, new tools and equipment for Men's Sheds at Mary Valley, Tin Can Bay and Howard.