SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE BOOST FOR PRISONS, FIRIES AND AMBOS
Published Tuesday, 14 June, 2011 at 03:06 PM
Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts
More frontline officers, more emergency response vehicles and new and refurbished fire and ambulance stations are the centrepiece of the Department of Community Safety’s more than $2 billion budget in 2011-12.
Corrective and Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the department’s budget comprised a $1.799 billion operating budget and a $229.3 million capital budget.
Mr Roberts said the budget included funding for 19 new or redeveloped ambulance stations and 14 new or redeveloped fire stations.
“More than $11 million has been allocated towards four new ambulance stations at Coomera, Ningi, North Lakes and Pinjarra Hills as well as $13.1 million for replacement, refurbished or redeveloped ambulance stations at Biggenden, Calliope, Chermside, Cleveland, Emerald, Gayndah, Gladstone, Gordonvale, Kingaroy, Normanton, Ravenshoe, South Mackay, Spring Hill, Tara and Winton,” Mr Roberts said.
Funding of $15.2 million has been allocated in 2011-12 for a new fire station at Brassall and 13 replacement or redeveloped fire stations at Cherbourg, Clermont, Clifton, Craignish, Emerald, Mackay, Mareeba, Millaa Millaa, Mount Tamborine, Noosa, Ripley, Smithfield and Walkerston.
“The budget also includes funding for 50 additional ambulance officers, 140 new or replacement ambulance vehicles, and 49 new and replacement urban and rural fire appliances which will ensure the current high standard of emergency response can be maintained.”
Mr Roberts said the State Budget continues the expansion and refurbishment program underway within the State’s correctional facilities.
“The 2011-12 State Budget includes $51.3 million to continue the $442.8 million expansion and redevelopment of Lotus Glen Correctional Centre near Mareeba,” he said.
“In addition, $13.6 million in operating expenditure has been allocated for the pre-commissioning and operation of the expanded facility.
“This budget also provides $33.7 million to continue the $415.6 million first stage of the Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct development at Gatton. In addition $26.4 million has been provided for operation and maintenance of the Correctional Precinct.
“One million dollars has also been provided towards the construction of new low security accommodation for women at the Numinbah Correctional Centre.
“A further $6 million is also provided in 2011-12 towards the cell upgrade program at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to modify cells in order to increase the number of suicide resistant cells.”
Mr Roberts said the budget also included $2.2 million – as part of a total $9.6 million over three years and $4.1 million per year from 2014-15 – to introduce global positioning system (GPS) technology to monitor and track the movement of offenders on continuing supervision orders under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003.
More than $2 million would be spent developing a disaster management warehouse in North Queensland and purchasing additional stock of tarpaulins, sandbags, ladders, chainsaws, generators and other essential materials for existing caches in Cairns, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Townsville and Maryborough and the warehouse in Ormeau.
“The budget includes funding for seven additional regional disaster planning staff to support the critical work of preparing for and recovering from disaster events, and $1.1 million for additional staff to perform the watch desk function within the State Disaster Coordination Centre to enhance the coordination of information for disaster events,” Mr Roberts said.
The budget also allocates $4.4 million in 2011-12 towards a new $6.9 million All Hazards Information Management Program to provide accessible, relevant and up-to-date information to enhance situational awareness during disasters.
In-line with the Bligh Government’s commitment to support our volunteers, the Budget will also deliver 20 new vehicles, four flood boats and undertake a disaster management exercise to enhance State Emergency Services capability.
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3239 0199 or 0488 096 204
Corrective and Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the department’s budget comprised a $1.799 billion operating budget and a $229.3 million capital budget.
Mr Roberts said the budget included funding for 19 new or redeveloped ambulance stations and 14 new or redeveloped fire stations.
“More than $11 million has been allocated towards four new ambulance stations at Coomera, Ningi, North Lakes and Pinjarra Hills as well as $13.1 million for replacement, refurbished or redeveloped ambulance stations at Biggenden, Calliope, Chermside, Cleveland, Emerald, Gayndah, Gladstone, Gordonvale, Kingaroy, Normanton, Ravenshoe, South Mackay, Spring Hill, Tara and Winton,” Mr Roberts said.
Funding of $15.2 million has been allocated in 2011-12 for a new fire station at Brassall and 13 replacement or redeveloped fire stations at Cherbourg, Clermont, Clifton, Craignish, Emerald, Mackay, Mareeba, Millaa Millaa, Mount Tamborine, Noosa, Ripley, Smithfield and Walkerston.
“The budget also includes funding for 50 additional ambulance officers, 140 new or replacement ambulance vehicles, and 49 new and replacement urban and rural fire appliances which will ensure the current high standard of emergency response can be maintained.”
Mr Roberts said the State Budget continues the expansion and refurbishment program underway within the State’s correctional facilities.
“The 2011-12 State Budget includes $51.3 million to continue the $442.8 million expansion and redevelopment of Lotus Glen Correctional Centre near Mareeba,” he said.
“In addition, $13.6 million in operating expenditure has been allocated for the pre-commissioning and operation of the expanded facility.
“This budget also provides $33.7 million to continue the $415.6 million first stage of the Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct development at Gatton. In addition $26.4 million has been provided for operation and maintenance of the Correctional Precinct.
“One million dollars has also been provided towards the construction of new low security accommodation for women at the Numinbah Correctional Centre.
“A further $6 million is also provided in 2011-12 towards the cell upgrade program at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to modify cells in order to increase the number of suicide resistant cells.”
Mr Roberts said the budget also included $2.2 million – as part of a total $9.6 million over three years and $4.1 million per year from 2014-15 – to introduce global positioning system (GPS) technology to monitor and track the movement of offenders on continuing supervision orders under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003.
More than $2 million would be spent developing a disaster management warehouse in North Queensland and purchasing additional stock of tarpaulins, sandbags, ladders, chainsaws, generators and other essential materials for existing caches in Cairns, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Townsville and Maryborough and the warehouse in Ormeau.
“The budget includes funding for seven additional regional disaster planning staff to support the critical work of preparing for and recovering from disaster events, and $1.1 million for additional staff to perform the watch desk function within the State Disaster Coordination Centre to enhance the coordination of information for disaster events,” Mr Roberts said.
The budget also allocates $4.4 million in 2011-12 towards a new $6.9 million All Hazards Information Management Program to provide accessible, relevant and up-to-date information to enhance situational awareness during disasters.
In-line with the Bligh Government’s commitment to support our volunteers, the Budget will also deliver 20 new vehicles, four flood boats and undertake a disaster management exercise to enhance State Emergency Services capability.
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3239 0199 or 0488 096 204