HITS AND MISSES

Few big-ticket items but help for projects to progress

BIG-TICKET spends specific to the Far North were light on the ground but residents have been assured the Federal Budget has money for four of the region’s top road projects.

Treasurer Scott Morrison has revealed a $3.5 billion Roads of Strategic Importance funding pool for priority transport projects that have not yet been fully costed or planned.

Bullet-points included the final sealing of the Peninsula Development Rd, upgrades to the Savannah Way and Hann Hwy, and the “Cairns ring road” extension of the National Highway from Woree to Smithfield. A government spokesman said the latter project was accounted for on the understanding the Queensland Government planned to hand over control of the route in the State Budget.

Mr Entsch said the works would support local jobs and “stimulate economic activity through better connectivity”.

“Once these projects are costed then the money will be available and the projects will get under way,” he said.

Advance Cairns chairman Trent Twomey said it was a “highways and hip pockets” budget that benefited small businesses and lower and middle income earners but specific infrastructure outlays for the Far North were hard to find.

Kennedy MP Bob Katter said there was no funding for indigenous housing despite previous assurances from Mr Entsch, and infrastructure spends were predicated on successfully applying for grants.

“With the Hann Hwy, we will go after that with great aggression and I remain guardedly confident that we will get that money,” he said.

“But again, it’s not in the budget – I would sleep more peacefully if it was in there.”

Mr Katter said the regionalmetropolitan divide was laid bare in a map in the budget papers outlining where the big infrastructure money was going.

“If they’re spending $40 billion and we’ve got one-fifth of the population, where’s our $8 billion?” he asked.

“You want an argument for a new state, just look at the state of that map.”

Mr Katter did praise relief for people in lower income brackets, which he said would be felt in Kennedy.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said a predicted budget surplus by 2020-21 was a positive.

“There’s nothing there that specifically relates to us but there does seem to be some ability for us to access funding,” he said. “I’m a little bit disappointed. “I think Cairns is doing its fair share of lifting and more.

“It would be nice to think there was a little bit coming our way – I think we’ve earned it.”

Mr Entsch said hardworking Far North Queenslanders would be the benefit.

“In fact, low to medium income earners across Cairns and Far North Queensland could be up to $530 better off each year under this budget,” he said.