STATE BUDGET FUNDS FOR COOK ELECTORATE

The 2003/04 State Budget included funds for a range of new projects and initiatives in the Cook electorate, Member for Cook Steve Bredhauer announced today.

"I am happy to see that a number of projects in our local area have received funding in the Budget," Mr Bredhauer said.

"As the local member I work hard to lobby Government Ministers on behalf of residents and it is rewarding to see that persistence pay off."

Mr Bredhauer said initiatives in the Cook electorate include:

* $500,000 to upgrade Coconut Island airstrip * more than $35 Million in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing funding to construct/upgrade houses, apartments and units and to purchase blocks of land for this purpose * $400,000 in ongoing public library funding to establish and maintain Indigenous Knowledge Centres * $265,000 in ongoing funding towards Indigenous Regional Arts Development * $237,000 in ongoing funding to book stock for public libraries * $138,000 in ongoing funding to the local TAFE Institutes to deliver employment training specifically to Indigenous peoples in regional and remote communities * $2 million for dredging the approach channel and berth pocket at Weipa harbour * $200,000 for Thursday Island main port upgrade * $550,000 for causeway paving at Thursday Island * $200,000 for Thursday Island and Horn Island cargo wharf upgrade works * $2.739 million towards a $7 million project to construct a section between Coalseam and Laura River, on the Peninsula Developmental Road. (To be jointly funded by the federal and state governments as a Road of National Importance project.) * $200,000 to continue planning for construction of a section of the Peninsula Developmental Road, south of Kennedy Creek, to a sealed standard, at a total cost of $3 million. (To be jointly funded by the federal and state governments as a Road of National Importance project.) * $3.583 million to complete a $7 million gravel supply contract for the Cooktown Developmental Road upgrading works. * $5.956 million towards a $7.6 million project to seal a section of the Cooktown Developmental Road between West Normanby River and Boggy Creek. * $2.308 million to continue construction of the Cooktown Developmental Road between Little Annan River and Scrubby Creek to a sealed standard, at a total estimated cost of $4.9 million. * $2.835 million to complete construction of bridge and approaches at Morehead River on the Peninsula Developmental Road between Laura and Coen, at a total cost of $3.06 million. * $865,000 to complete shoulder sealing of the Captain Cook Highway (Cairns-Mossman) between Buchans Point and Yule Point at a total cost of $917,000. * $12 Million under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme to improve road access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and assist local road upgrades as part of the Beattie Government's continued commitment to the Cape York Partnership Plan, including:  $850,000 for continued sealing of the Hopevale access road, within Hopevale community, with a total cost of $3.415 million  $500,000 for formation and drainage works to the St Paul's access road on Moa Island at a total cost of $2 million  $300,000 towards upgrading Topsy Creek and Kowanyama access roads, at a total cost of $1.5 million  $840,000 to upgrade sections of the Darnley Island access road to bitumen seal and to improve drainage at a total cost of $1.1 million  $700,000 to pave and seal the Dauan Island access road at a total cost of $950,000 * $180,000 to purchase X-ray equipment for the Mossman Multi Purpose Health Service * $2 Million to replace facilities at the Torres Strait Primary Health Care Centre on Mabuiag Island * $1.87 Million to replace facilities at the Torres Strait Primary Health Care Centre on Yam (Iama) Island * $1.81 Million to replace facilities at the Torres Strait Primary Health Care Centre on Mua Island * $350,000 to provide staff accommodation for Torres Health Service District Mental Health, Pathology and Medical personnel * $600,000 to help manage patient travel requirements in the Cape York Health Service District * $800,000 to replace an administration block at Saibai Island State School * $196,000 to repaint school buildings at Cooktown State School, Horn Island State School, Mossman State High School, Mossman State School, St Pauls State School and Warraber Island State School and for reticulation works at Warraber Island State School * $167,000 to complete sports oval rectification at Thursday Island State School * $100,000 for Student hostel upgrade (stage one) at Western Cape College - Weipa * $5,000 for disabled access at Yorke Island State School * $1.58 million for air-conditioning at Bloomfield River State School, Malu Kiwai State School, Mossman State High School, Rossville State School, Saibai Island State School and Pormpuraaw State School under Cooler Schools (round four) * $500,000 for infrastructure works on National Parks at Cape York * $185,000 for improvements to the new Noah Beach Campground in the Daintree National Park * $140,000 for administration infrastructure at the Cape Tribulation in the Daintree National Park * $95,000 for stage two of the Elliot Falls Campground in the Jardine Rive National Park * $93,000 for visitor infrastructure renewal at Mossman Gorge in the Daintree National Park * $93,000 for upgrades to the Devil's Thumb Walking Track in the Daintree National Park * $49,000 for upgrades to Lakefield campground * $20,000 for planning towards improving access infrastructure to the Mossman Gorge * $1.012 million for local road and drainage works * $357,000 to assist in the restoration of assets of the Mareeba Shire Council damaged in flooding in February 2002 * $79,000 towards the construction of the north Mossman Sewerage Scheme * $50,000 towards the upgrade of Hope Vale Aboriginal Council's administration centre * $30,000 towards the reticulation of underground water for irrigation at Seisia Island Council * $30,000 for vegetation mapping of the Southern Cape wet tropics bioregion (shared with the electorates of Tablelands, Cook Mulgrave and Hinchinbrook) * $304,000 to support the progression of viable agriculture, forestry and fisheries project proposals in indigenous communities in Cape York * $78,000 for the establishment of a softwood plantation and the maintenance of an existing softwood plantation on State-owned land managed by DPI Forestry * $855,00 to complete the extension and refurbishment of the Heritage Listed Cooktown Courthouse * $600,000 towards the new Thursday Island Courthouse at a total coast of $2.4 million * $450,000 for the Hopevale Police Station and for a new police residence at Hopevale * $350,000 for a new police residence at Kowanyama * $2.892 million to enhance telecommunications infrastructure for the 16 islands of the Torres Strait as part of the Commonwealth Government's Networking the Nation program * $474,823 to construct a multi-purpose one court recreation facility with kitchen, amenities and storage space at Mapoon * $75,000 to construct a gymnasium at the Port Douglas Surf Life Saving Club * $75,000 to construct a multi-purpose field including a grandstand and safety fence at Injinoo * $44,428 to upgrade existing court surfaces from concrete to synpave, install lighting and construct grandstand for basketball at Badu Island * $42,610 to upgrade two existing outdoor court surfaces from concrete to rebound synpave at the Clifton Beach Tennis Club * $2.63 million in ongoing funding towards the Cape York Justice Study Program to coordinate stronger service delivery, improved responses to alcohol and crime issues and support the implementation of community action plans * $11.32 Million in ongoing funding to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Councils provide local government services * $19,737 to upgrade the existing court surfaces from concrete to rebound synpave for basketball, netball and volleyball at Dauan Island * $10,692 to construct an outdoor elevated shooting platform at the Cooktown Sporting Shooters Association * $44,000 to complete the new ambulance station and field officer residence at Kowanyama * $33 million to construct 240 public housing dwellings * $6 million to upgrade an additional 230 public housing dwellings * $1.809 in infrastructure grants through the Department of Housing * $126,000 to fund two trainee managers for the Napranum Business Enterprise Centre * $1.6 million will be allocated to the Far North Region to provide jobs for 383 long term unemployed people * $2.8 million in ongoing funding under the Cape York Training & Employment Strategy to help ensure Cape York residents are job ready by delivering training linked to employment opportunities in the region * $245,000 for Indigenous Employment and training support in the Cape York Area (shared with the electorate of Mount Isa) * $700,000 for mine shaft repairs and capping as well as environmental works at Horn Island and Horn Island Dam * $180,000 for mine shaft repairs and capping as well as environmental works at Palmer River * $5,000 towards the implementation of initiatives to reduce exposure to flood risk * $200,000 for the expansion of local Community Conferencing by the Department of Families

The Far North region will receive around $6.8 million to create an estimated 840 jobs through the Beattie Government's Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative during 2003/04.

This builds on the funding already allocated to the Cook electorate under the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle, where approximately $12.7 million has been allocated between October 1998 and March 2003. This has resulted in 836 jobs being created for Cook.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Mr Terry Mackenroth, said the Budget would deliver a healthy cash surplus, maintain Queensland's AAA credit rating, and increased funding to services and capital works.

"This Budget is targeted at those people in our community who most need a helping hand," Mr Mackenroth said.

Media inquiries: Louise Foley, Senior Media Advisor (07) 3235 4826 or 0407 966 829 ... Marie Low, Media Advisor (07) 3237 1944 or 0408 725 308.