Groom’s budget wish list

WHEN John McVeigh returns to Canberra after the Groom LNP pre-selection vote there will be one thing on his mind – the federal budget.

Speaking on the back of being confirmed as the electorate’s LNP candidate for the next federal election on Saturday, Mr McVeigh outlined the Groom wish list he is taking to the nation’s capital.

Ensuring the region biggest projects get their fair share will be at the top of that list.

“Groom has magnificent infrastructure but there is a lot of work to get Inland Rail completed properly,” he said.

“We need to ensure that all families and individuals see job and business opportunities coming out of this infrastructure and that is what I am working on in this budget.”

The federal Minister for Regional Development singled out plans for flood-proofing the city of Toowoomba, especially the East and West Creek culverts on James St.

“Deputy prime minister Michael McCormack expressed great interest in (finalising the plans),” Mr McVeigh said.

“These (the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and Inland Rail) are projects that continue to need to be prioritised every year.

“You can’t commit to them one year and then forget about them the following year so I need to keep the ball rolling.”

The 2018-2019 federal budget will be released at about 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 8.