THAT’S A STATE BUDGET YAWN
UNREMARKABLE, UNDERWHELMING AND BORING
THE latest State Budget has been declared “unremarkable” by Cairns community leaders, who note the absence of major infrastructure projects such as the Global Tourism Hub.
The Palaszczuk government yesterday announced $176 million over two years for an upgrade of the Cairns Convention Centre and the allocation of $17.5 million towards the Smithfield Bypass.
But other Cairns-specific projects, such as $26.4 million for the Cairns Performing Arts Centre and a commitment to “progress approvals” for the widening and deepening of Trinity Inlet, appear to only be reannouncements of previous budget items.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning yesterday told reporters that Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad’s first budget was “underwhelming.”
“There’s nothing that really hits you in the eye,” he said.
“There doesn’t seem to be money there for dredging – I can’t see that.
“Maybe it’s there, but we certainly can’t see that.
“It would certainly be a blow if it wasn’t there.”
The budget includes $28.3 million for the fourth stage of the Cairns Southern Access Corridor project, to widen from four to six lanes the Bruce Highway from Kate St to Aumuller St, near the Port of Cairns and wharf precinct.
It also includes $15.2 million for the project’s third stage to duplicate from two to four lanes on the Bruce Highway from Collinson Creek in Edmonton as far as the vicinity of Wrights Creek near Gordonvale.
Cr Manning said it was disappointing there was only a small percentage of the total funding needed towards the Smithfield Bypass project on Cairns’ northern beaches, to improve traffic flow.
“When that bypass is completed, it will be at capacity,” he said.
“We’re not running ahead of the game, we’re struggling to keep up with the game.”
It was hoped there would be an allocation of funds for the Global Tourism Hub in Cairns, a casino venture on the city’s waterfront.
However, the only mention of the project in the budget papers appears to be the Department of Innovation and Tourism Industry Development committing to “continue processes for procurement” of it.
Advance Cairns chief executive Nick Trompf said it was good to see Labor’s election promises, such as the Cairns Convention Centre expansion, backed up by allocated funds.
“Election promises are one thing, but hard cash is another,” he said.
“So I think it’s promising that that’s starting to flow through.”
However, Mr Trompf said there did not appear to be any major infrastructure funding for the region, other than reiterating previous budget commitments.
“If you look back over the last few years, other than the big (Cairns) Hospital redevelopment, there hasn’t been major investment in our part of the world, with the exception of the southside road funding, which (the State) is doing with the Feds,” he said.
WHEN THAT BYPASS IS COMPLETED, IT WILL BE AT CAPACITY. WE’RE NOT RUNNING AHEAD OF THE GAME, WE’RE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE GAME. CAIRNS MAYOR BOB MANNING