FUNDING IN THE WORKS

TOWNSVILLE has not been singled out for any new money, but the Coalition’s sole local federal MP insists the city and region will benefit from last night’s Budget.

Dawson MP George Christensen pointed to initiatives including the $ 472 million Regional Growth Fund, a new $ 272 million regional projects fund and the establishment of a Regional Investment Corporation as having wideranging benefits for Townsville, Mackay and North Queensland.

In water, Mr Christensen conceded detailed work was still being compiled on solutions to Townsville’s supply crisis but said the monies were being made available.

“I guess we are going to have to wait until completion of those studies and until we get a direction from the City Deal and its Townsville Water Taskforce but ( I do not think) that it’s going to be too far off,” he said.

Mr Christensen pointed to the $ 4 billion Regional Investment Corporation or the Regional Growth Fund as water funding sources.

In rail, Mr Christensen said the Government had allocated $ 38.75 million in 2017- 18 for the Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor.

The Government has already announced $ 150 million over four years from 2016- 17 toward the corridor which will connect the North Coast Line directly with the Port of Townsville.

The project is awaiting a State Government commitment and the finalising a business case the state is coordinating and which is expected by the end of the year.

The Coalition Govern- ment has also committed $ 100 million over four years from 2016- 17 toward the 25,000 seat Townsville Integrated Stadium with $ 50 million allocated this year.

In roads, Mr Christensen said $ 35.6 million had been allocated in 2017- 18 for pavement widening on the Bruce Highway between Home Hill and Ingham, $ 1.5 million would be spent on the Burdekin River Bridge and $ 13.6 million was being set aside for the Haughton River Bridge project.

The Haughton River project, estimated to cost a total of $ 515 million to provide a higher level bridge and road approaches and to improve flood immunity, is expected to begin in mid- 2019 for a 2022 completion.

Mr Christensen said the Townsville and Burdekin councils would benefit from the Government’s Roads to Recovery Program.

He said the Townsville council would receive $ 3 million including for work on the gridlocked Mervyn Crossman Drive William Angliss Drive roundabout.

Burdekin Shire Council is to receive $ 870,000 for local roads including for the McDowell Rd at Home Hill which is to be reconstructed and widened.

But Labor MP for Herbert Cathy O’Toole last night said she was “bitterly disappointed” for the North.

“It’s not a Budget for any more growth in our economy,” Ms O’Toole said.

She said there was no mention of water for Townsville, no mention about electricity prices and less money for the Bruce Highway.

“We really have been left in the lurch,” she said.

Treasurer Scott Morrison declared, in his second budget speech, that Australia’s tough times are over, pencilling in a surplus of $ 7.4 billion by 2020- 21, a halving of net debt to GDP by 2027 and showing restraint by limiting real spending growth to 2.3 per cent a year.

While the net debt is at historic high of $ 354 billion this year, the deficit next financial year will be $ 29.4 bil- lion – about $ 10 billion less than this year.

It is the first marked improvement in the budget outlook since the Global Financial Crisis, largely because of resource prices like iron ore improving.

Mr Morrison admitted his Budget was “pragmatic”, “practical” and reflected what could realistically be passed with the current Senate make- up of crossbenchers Nick Xenophon, Pauline Hanson, Derryn Hinch, Jackie Lambie and the Greens.

“The signs of an improving global economy are there to see,” he said.

“This Budget is about making the right choices to secure the better days ahead,” Mr Morrison said.

“Our choices are based on the principles of fairness, security and opportunity.” Editorial, page 20