$500M CASH SPLURGE FOR FAR NORTH
A MASSIVE multimillion-dollar cash splash will transform the Far North following the handing down of the federal budget on Tuesday night — but some changes are still years away.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, delivering his first budget, played it safe and ticked off all Labor’s major election pledges to the Far North.
Funding for the $150m Cairns Marine Precinct expansion, $210m for the Kuranda Range Rd, the $50m CQUniversity Cairns CBD campus, the $107.5m Cairns water security package and $15m to Tourism Tropical North Queensland for international tourism recovery were all included in the 2022/23 federal budget.
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said while everyone was watching out for the major commitments, he was keeping a close eye on smaller but still crucial Far North Labor promises.
A $40m marine infrastructure upgrade in the Torres Strait, $1m TAFE health hub on Thursday Island, $500,000 for a community battery in
Cairns North, $50,000 for Redlynch State College’s nature playground, $50,000 for Mossman State Primary School’s tennis court shed and $50,000 to Wonga Beach State School’s covered walkways were Labor pre-election promises that Mr Entsch was keen to see funded.
Member for Kennedy Bob Katter said all-together, the budget was “very good” for Far North Queensland — particularly farmers and those living in more remote areas.
Labor has funded $30m worth of improvements to telecommunications and farmers’ on-farm connectivity and black spots nationwide, $110m nationally for mobile black spots – including along the Kuranda Range Road and along the Bruce Highway at Fishery Falls, and the Farmer Household Allowance Scheme.
They’re all “vital” investments into regional areas, according to Mr Katter. He said it would save lives.
Happy to see the Labor government honour its commitments, Jacinta Reddan, CEO of Advance Cairns, said the confirmation of funding for major Far North projects was a “win for the region”.
“It’s really wonderful to see the region has been listened to,” she said.
“It looks like (some of the) funding falls over six years, we would have preferred to see it sooner … but we’re delighted to see more details.”
Labor Senator Nita Green said the budget was “just the beginning” in building a better future.
“Our government is clear in our support for regional Queensland communities, providing record investment in the industries that need it the most,” she said.