Gravy train passes by

Hopes lie in $472m regional package

THE Federal Budget’s inland rail gravy train has deviated from the Far North but there is hope an overall commitment to regional spending could give Cairns its fair share.

Treasurer Scott Morrison pledged $843.8 million for Bruce Highway upgrades across Queensland, as well as a $5 million fund in 2016-17 to help the state’s tourism industry recover from Cyclone Debbie’s impact.

The Far North’s biggest infrastructure hopes lie in a $472 million pledge to extend the Regional Growth Fund, designed to support “local economics and adapt to the changes taking place through globalisation and technological change”.

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the government’s announcement of a 10-year, $50 billion plan for roads, rail and runways was good news for the campaign to extend the National Highway in a ring road around Cairns.

“So when the proposal gets up, we will have money in the tin ready to go,” he said.

Mr Entsch said tax concessions on first homebuyers and a permanent fund to address homelessness would also have a positive effect in the region.

While details on specific projects were thin on the ground last night, Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning was optimistic about the coming year.

“The treasurer sounds quite confident. But until we get some more detailed papers, I can’t really say what it will mean for us,” he said.

Cairns MP Rob Pyne said Bruce Highway funding meant the stage 3 of the upgrade between Chinaman Creek and Aumuller St could soon start.

“That will create a lot of jobs as well,” he said.

The government committed to spending $133.8 million between now and mid-2021 on the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan “while allowing ecologically sustainable development”.

Yarrabah had a budget win with $5 million committed over four years from 2017-18 to support “community-designed and delivered employment services” in the indigenous community.

Mr Entsch labelled the predicted 2021 budget surplus “extraordinary”.

“That’s not far away at all,” he said.