MPs call for investment in region’s infrastructure
TOOWOOMBA’S state MPs yesterday called on the State Government to re-invest in regional infrastructure in the upcoming Queensland Budget.
The LNP’s David Janetzki and Trevor Watts, representing Toowoomba South and North respectively, laid out their budget wishlists ahead of Treasurer Curtis Pitt’s announcement in parliament today.
Mr Watts said he would expect funding commitments for a new Toowoomba Hospital, a new police station in Highfields as well as further development of the Railway Parklands and Goods Shed in the CBD.
“Labor has not funded one new major infrastructure project while in office and it’s savagely cut infrastructure funding for our region,” he said.
“Any would be a good start – the first and most important thing we need to look at is planning a new hospital.
“Another project that was started under the LNP is the Railway Parklands and Goods Shed. It would be nice to see some funding for the project.
“I’m not suggesting we should build a hospital next week, but we need to do a plan for all of these projects.”
Mr Jantezki echoed his colleague’s concerns on infrastructure spending, saying the ALP Government needed to re-invest in the Toowoomba region while it was still booming.
“I’m determined that the Toowoomba region continues to build on the exciting developments currently under way,” he said.
“The Labor Government has pulled around $200m in infrastructure spending in each of the last 2 years and we can’t afford to see that again in this year’s budget.”
Mr Janetzki’s proposal for a Go Card system to go with the new bus system in Toowoomba looks unlikely to be granted, with Assistant Transport Minister ruling out the measure at a press conference yesterday.
Both MPs placed funding for school crossing safety and flood mitigation high on their lists, while Mr Watts said the Government should look at three potential projects to boost tourism in Toowoomba.
“I’d like some money to take a look at our tourism sector and see what options we’d have,” he said.
“Three projects they could look at are the Quarry Gardens project, one being a convention centre and the third a motorsport centre outside town.
“These three projects could boost tourism, so they should spend some money to develop them and then ask the people of Toowoomba what they would like.”