PITT CASTS JOBS LURE
MORE than 4300 jobs across Toowoomba and the Darling Downs will be supported by the latest State Budget, as the Palaszczuk Government looks to lure voters with employment and infrastructure support.
About $320 million worth of old and new projects were announced for the Garden City, with several aimed at the marginal seat of Toowoomba North in the looming state election.
MORE than $300 million will be spent in the Toowoomba region under the Palaszczuk Government’s latest state budget.
At least 15 projects specific to the local government area will be funded, across areas like health, education, transport, social services and utilities.
The single biggest funding announcement was for Wilsonton State High School’s new hall, which was worth more than $3.6 million in the budget.
Highfields is one of the big winners, with its high school receiving $1.9 million for a new student centre, while another $100,000 will go towards a police station.
The Highfields Sport and Recreation Park, which had previously been announced, will receive $825,000 in the upcoming financial year to continue construction.
Charlton also enjoyed plenty of funding in the state budget handed down by Treasurer Curtis Pitt yesterday, with $630,000 going towards its Fire and Rescue headquarters and more Warrego Hwy duplication works between Charlton and Kingsthorpe.
Oakey’s auxiliary fire and rescue station will also be relocated and upgraded, to the tune of $879,000.
Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio welcomed the funding, but did note the State Budget was largely Brisbane and Townsville-centred.
“We’re delighted about the continued funding for the bypass and it’s great to see a section of the hospital (emergency department) getting more capacity,” he said.
“We’re very happy for the Highfields Sport Park funding, as we are trying to expand our sport and recreation facilities there.
“Overall, I would suggest that the focus of Brisbane and Townsville is pretty strong (in this budget).”
More than 40 different projects, initiatives and services across the Darling Downs will be funded by the State Government, including several previously announced items like the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing ($252 million), investigations into now banned coal gasification ($15.4 million) and Advance Queensland funding ($1.5 million).
New initiatives to create more social housing ($23 million) and help the homeless ($3.7 million) in the Darling Downs will be delivered in the budget, while another $3.8 million will be spent across south-west Queensland on minor infrastructure works.
The funding announcements are expected to support about 4,300 jobs in the Darling Downs and south-west Queensland during the next financial year, with infrastructure ($917.9 million), health ($903.4 million) and education ($27.9 million) all receiving big sums.