STATE BUDGET 2010-11: Funding boost for improved railway crossings and local schools in Mulgrave

Funding will be allocated in this year’s Budget to build new social housing, upgrade level crossings and spruce up local schools in Mulgrave, creating jobs and helping support the state’s economic recovery, Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said today.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the 2010-11State Budget delivers on Labor’s promise to create more jobs, sooner.

“This is a responsible Budget that builds on the foundations for a stronger economic recovery,” Mr Fraser said.

“Our massive statewide building program will deliver more jobs as we secure a stronger, more robust Queensland economy.”

Mr Pitt said $3.4 million has been allocated to complete the construction of twenty single bedroom dwellings at Edmonton as part of the largest investment in social housing since the Chifley era.

“The remaining $8 million towards the construction of a replacement Jubilee Bridge brings the State’s contribution to $14 million,” Mr Pitt said.

“On this basis, Cassowary Coast Regional Council has now given the project the green light and it’s expected to generate up to 140 jobs in the region.

“$775,000 will also be provided this year to complete the $10 million project to upgrade level crossing between Farleigh and Garradunga.

“Projects like these will play a significant role in creating jobs and helping support Queensland’s economic recovery,” Mr Pitt said.

Mr Pitt also welcomed the firm commitment from the State Government to be an equal partner with the Cairns Regional Council and the Federal Government to develop the Cairns Cultural Precinct in Far North Queensland.

He said the State Budget will make a $42.5 million contribution to the project consisting of a transfer of the State owned port land valued at $40 million and $2.5 million as a one third contribution of funding for detailed planning of the project.

“The Premier has said when the business plan comes back, the State will fund a third of this project,” Mr Pitt said.

“This is an important step towards diversifying the region’s economic base. It will fulfil the vision of a water front precinct that the city has held for many years.

“Maybe now we will see artists such as Pink not only visit Port Douglas for a holiday but hold a major concert in Cairns as well.”

Mr Pitt said there was also a strong focus on continuing to deliver support services to some of the most vulnerable people in the region.

“We took the tough decisions as a government to ensure we could continue to see jobs growth, but also to support those in our community who needed our help,” Mr Pitt said.

“Over half a million dollars will be spent to provide early intervention support for children with autism and their families.

“Younger people with disabilities will be supported to exit or be diverted from entering aged care facilities with funding of $1.43 million.

“And there’s more than half a million in Home and Community Care funding to support communities in Innisfail and Babinda.”

 Mr Pitt said local schools were also winners in the State Budget with $28,000 committed to upgrade facilities.

“The Bligh Government sees the education of our young people as integral to the future of our state; a fact which is reflected in the Budget,” Mr Pitt said.

“This funding will be allocated for maintenance work at Gordonvale State School, which reflects this Government’s commitment to providing a better future for tomorrow’s leaders.”

Mr Pitt said Queenslanders were promised a strong economic plan for the future and this Budget delivered on that promise.

Funding allocated to the Mulgrave electorate in today’s Budget includes:

Community Infrastructure

• $1.4 million towards the acquisition of land within Far North Queensland for future industrial purposes at a total cost of $8 million.
• $60,000 to improve the health and wellbeing of Queensland Indigenous communities in Yarrabah, to increase participation and opportunities in sport and recreation, and to build and strengthen community capacity to plan and deliver sport and recreation at a total cost of $180,000.
• $93,832 to provide a community centre-based development and support service, with a total State Government contribution of $281,497.
• $133,369 to provide a specialist support service to families with dependent children under the age of 18 years where identified problems or needs in relation to the care of children, or where children or young person has been subject to abuse or neglect, with a total State Government contribution of $400,108.
• $134,263 to provide an early intervention and family support service, with a total State Government contribution of $402,789.
• $709,000 toward the purchase of Bookstock for Public libraries.
• $835,000 to support Indigenous Knowledge Centres.
• $152,000 toward the purchase of Bookstock for Public libraries in the electorates of Hinchinbrook, Mulgrave, and Dalrymple.
• $359,987 towards counselling and support for young people at risk of homelessness, with a total State Government contribution of $1.08 Million.
• $330,202 towards an accommodation and support service for women and children escaping domestic and family violence, with a total State Government contribution of $990,606.
• $3.4 million to complete construction of 20, one-bedroom apartments in Edmonton at a total project cost of $4.63 million.
• $408,000 to complete construction of two dwellings in Cairns at a total cost of $485,000.
• $1.4 million to complete construction of six dwellings in Far North Queensland at a total cost of $1.57 million.
• $583,012 to provide early intervention approaches to support children with autism and their families to develop the skills for successful transition to school.
• $1.43 million to support younger people with disabilities to exit aged care facilities or be diverted from entering aged care.
• $7,840 for Home and Community Care funding to Babinda District Meals on Wheels Inc through Babinda District Meals on Wheels for Meals.
• $506,405 for Home and Community Care funding to St John’s Community Care Limited through Innisfail Day Respite Centre for Allied Health Care; Centre Based Day Care; Counselling/Support, Information and Advocacy; Home Maintenance; Respite Care; Transport.
• $26,950 for Home and Community Care funding to Innisfail Meals on Wheels Incorporated through Innisfail Meals on Wheels for Meals.
• $6,631 towards the construction of bus shelters (RLIP) 2008-09 project, with a total State Government contribution of $66,301.
• $5,000 to Gordonvale Turf Club to offset the costs of maintaining training facilities.
• $10,000 to Innisfail Turf Club Inc to offset the costs of maintaining training facilities.

Community Safety

• $186,246 to Jackson-Yeatman Pty Ltd in Yarrabah to provide an integrated service response incorporating a Foster Care House providing up to six (short and medium) places for Indigenous childrena nd young people ages 0-17 years of age with moderate to high support needs, and a Family Intervention Service in the Yarrabah Community at a total cost of $466,891.
• $1.9 million to construct a replacement ambulance station at Gordonvale at a total cost of $2 million.
• $670,000 to assist remote Indigenous communities in Northern and Far Northern regions prepare for the impacts of extreme weather events which may result from climate change at a total cost of $2 million over three years, 2010-11 to 2012-13.

Transport and Roads

• $775,000 is provided to complete the $10 million project to upgrade level crossings between Farleigh and Garradunga.
• $57,500 towards the construction of footpaths on River Avenue, Innisfail, with a total State Government contribution of $256,390.
• $75,000 towards improving an intersection on Fitzgerald Esplanade, Innisfail, with a total State Government contribution of $75,000.
• $72,000 towards profile correction and asphalt concrete resurfacing on a section of Fitzgerald Esplanade, Innisfail, with a total State Government contribution of $72,000.
• $87,500 towards miscellaneous works on a section of Flying Fish Point Road, Flying Fish Point, with a total State Government contribution of $87,500.
• $8 Million towards the construction of a new Jubilee Bridge, Innisfail, with a total State Government contribution of $14 Million.
• $500,000 for the installation of roadside and surface delineation on various sections of Gordonvale – Atherton (Gillies) Road, Gillies Range, at a total cost of $2.4 Million. Funded from the State Government’s Safer Roads Sooner program.
• $17,500 towards the construction of bikeways at various locations in Cairns, with a total State Government contribution of $87,500. Involves the electorates of Mulgrave, Barron River and Cairns.
• $120,000 for formation works on the Yarrabah access road, Yarrabah, with a total State Government contribution of $1.7 Million.
• $65,000 towards repairing, strengthening and overlaying a section of Flying Fish Point Road, Flying Fish Point, with a total State Government contribution of $65,000.
• $15,000 towards the provision of passenger set-down facilities at various locations in Cairns, with a total State Government contribution of $75,000 (Involves the electorates of Mulgrave, Barron River and Cairns).
• $20 Million in federal funding for grade separation on the Bruce Highway (Innisfail – Cairns), between Sheehy Road and Ray Jones Drive, with a total Federal Government contribution of $150 Million (Involves the electorates of Mulgrave and Cairns).
• $7,867,913 to subsidise all of the public transport services provided by Marlin Coast Sunbus in the Cairns region.
• $239,142 to subsidise all of the public transport services provided by TransNorth to Innisfail and surrounding areas.
• $120,000 in federal funding for drainage improvements on a section of the Bruce Highway (Innisfail – Cairns), 8km north of Innisfail, with a total Federal Government contribution of $1.61 Million (Involves the electorates of Hinchinbrook and Mulgrave).

Health

• $25,000 increase in 2010-11 to provide additional cancer treatment sessions at the Cairns Base Hospital, at a total cost of $9.9 million
• $2 million in 2010-11 to provide cancer treatment at the Cairns Base Hospital, at a total cost of $6 million over two years
• $198,000 to Gurriny Yealamucka (Good Healing) Health Services Aboriginal Corporation to provide Clinical Services and Health Promotion at a total cost of $831,000.

Education and Innovation

• $5.14 Million to provide assistance to low skilled workers, those disadvantaged in the labour market and to support the Queensland Green Army strategy for a total cost of $21.37 Million (Involves electorates of Barron River, Cairns, Cook, Dalrymple, Hinchinbrook, Mount Isa, Mulgrave).
• $19,077 has been allocated for maintenance work at Gordonvale State School
• $8,586 has been allocated for maintenance work at Gordonvale State School.
• $1.008 million distributed to 6 Institutes to deliver training to Indigenous people in regional and remote areas of Queensland.
• $492,000 to provide assistance to low skilled workers, those disadvantaged in the labour market and to support the Queensland Green Army strategy for a total cost of $2.08 Million.
• $63,675 for science laboratory renewal at Babinda State School at a total cost of $668,587.
• $77,517 for the General Learning Area Renewal at Hambledon State School at a total cost of $387,585.
• $1.1 Million for General Learning Area Renewal at Yarrabah State School at a total cost of $1.16 Million.
• $8.2 million in 2010-11 to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for the Marine Park’s Field Management Program. This funding forms part of an ongoing commitment to address the management of this unique environmental asset.
• $5,075 to increase coordinator hours and enhance program preparation for the Innisfail PCYC Outside School Hours Care service at a total cost of $15,225.
• $5,225 to increase coordinator hours and enhance program preparation for the Good Counsel Primary Innisfail Outside School Hours Care service at a total cost of $15,675.
• $5,225 to increase coordinator hours and enhance program preparation for the St Michael’s Gordonvale Outside School Hours Care service at a total cost of $15,675.
• $7,867 to assist the Yarrabah Aboriginal Corporation for Women to provide indigenous families in rural and remote areas of Queensland access to child care at a total cost of $23,601.
• $9,328 to assist the Yarrabah Community Council to provide a vacation care service during school holidays, with an emphasis on increasing access for disadvantaged children at a total cost of $27,984.
• $22,725 to assist ABC Developmental Learning Centre – Tamarind Gardens to provide an approved kindergarten program for children in the year prior to Prep for 15 hours a week and at 40 least weeks a year at a total cost of $68,175.