Hopes for fresh funds go south

THE State Budget focus on the northern Gold Coast has left a funding “black hole” in the south, according to MPs.

Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates said no new money was available for roads, schools or police in her Hinterland electorate.

“This Budget proves the Palaszczuk Labor Government couldn’t find Mudgeeraba on a map let alone understand the needs of the community,” Ms Bates said,

“Not a single dollar of new funding was announced for local roads despite the local community crying out for improvements on Worongary Rd, Tallai Rd, Franklin Dve and more. Local schools didn’t rate a mention either.

“It appears my pleas for flashing school zone signage at King’s Christian College and Numinbah Valley State School have fallen on deaf ears along with my request for a crossing supervisor at the Mudgeeraba Creek State School.”

Ms Bates said the Government had disregarded the need for a new public high school in the southern Coast.

The Budget provides funding for a new primary school at Pimpama, new secondary school at Coomera and new buildings for Ormeau and Pimpama state schools.

“Our local schools are bursting at the seams as our region struggles with a population boom but the Government have made no effort to address this,” Ms Bates said.

“Finally, our under-resourced and overworked local police did not receive any reprieve.”

Almost two-thirds of the top 30 key projects on the Coast were north of Robina.

Ms Bates said the Government had failed to restore police officer numbers on the Coast after cutting 44 officers from the region last year.

“Furthermore, no funding for anti-hooning equipment was announced for the Numinbah Valley, despite my years of campaigning on the issue.”

Ms Bates welcomed a $500,000 spend for the Gold Coast District Cricket club to extend their amenities block to accommodate females along with $750,000 to replace toilet facilities in Springbrook National Park at Natural Bridge.

Surfers Paradise MP JohnPaul Langbroek said on his Facebook page the Budget “delivers very little” for the Coast.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon said he was disappointed “only partial funding” would see one of two M1 exits in his electorate fully upgraded.

Theodore MP Mark Boothman said he could find only one major item in the Budget – the $25 million upgrade of Exit 57 at Oxenford which had been criticised by locals.

Mr Boothman was expelled from the Parliamentary Chamber on Monday before the Budget after interjecting. He made comments about the Exit 57 concept design.

“For $25 million residents get line marking, no right-turn lanes and traffic lights on the on-ramp – not exactly the value-for-money solution residents are wanting,” he said.