WATER, ENERGY HOPES
PLANNED spending on infrastructure will figure prominently in tonight’s Federal Budget and Townsville will be looking for its share, particularly for water and energy.
But just what the community can expect, apart from already committed funding for studies, is unclear.
Townsville Enterprise is being funded to undertake a feasibility study into the Hell’s Gate Dam on the upper Burdekin River and state agencies, also with federal commitments, are studying the raising of the Burdekin Falls Dam and a capacity upgrade for the Burdekin Haughton Channel.
Meanwhile, the Townsville Water Taskforce, formed out of the inter- governmental Townsville City Deal, will provide an interim report to governments on short, medium and longterm water initiatives on June 30.
The Coalition Government last year promised to commit $ 150 million towards the Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor project, expected to cost $ 300 million and to be funded jointly by State and Federal governments.
Federal allocations are already in the Government’s Mid- Year Economic Fiscal Outlook papers, released in December.
Townsville- based LNP Senator Ian Macdonald said the Budget would try to address the long- term deficit problems but still contain initiatives which would help people.
He welcomed an additional $ 350 million to support veterans including $ 33.5 million to extend free mental health treatment.
Other key measures of that program include $ 166 million for technology systems for the Department of Veterans Affairs and $ 133 million to provide a Gold Card to cover the health costs of surviving participants of the British Nuclear Test program.
Assistant Minister for Cities Angus Taylor said the Budget would reaffirm the Commonwealth was investing in highquality infrastructure projects.
Townsville father Yannick Fitzsimmons said he would like a responsible Budget with some extra help for parents struggling with the burden of childcare costs.
He works fulltime while his wife is on leave from her human resources position following the birth of their second child two weeks ago.
Mr Fitzsimmons said they already pay $ 460 a week on childcare and receive a $ 7500 rebate from the government which usually expires well before the end of the financial year.
“We have two mortgages but we’re looking at selling our second house because soon we’ll have two children in daycare,” he said.
“We don’t want to sell because the market is pretty average.
“But I don’t want to join the millions putting their hand out. The government has some tough calls to make.”