Here’s what Gladstone has been allocated in the 2022-2023 Queensland Budget by Labor Treasurer Cameron Dick, endorsed by Glenn Butcher
Hydrogen projects, better roads, and a number of new school halls have been announced for Gladstone as the state Labor government handed down it’s 22-23 budget on Tuesday. But one Central Queensland MP has dismissed the budget as “smoke and mirrors”.
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Prosperity for the Port City will continue, according to Gladstone’s MP, as major projects and investments have been announced for the region in the state government’s budget.
However, one Coalition MP has dismissed the budget saying it contained a raft of promises for the southeast corner and little for regional Queensland.
Gladstone MP and Regional Development Minister, Glenn Butcher said Tuesday’s release of the 2022-2023 Budget by Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick was “just fantastic”, as we reveal what’s in it for Central Queenslanders.
Renewable energy, healthcare, roads, and education are the big ticket items for the region as the Palaszczuk Labor government commit to transforming Gladstone into a hydrogen superpower.
Budget papers highlight the government’s desire to put Central Queensland on the map as a “world leader in the renewable hydrogen supply chain”.
The 2022-2023 Budget outlines the details of the hydrogen equipment manufacturing facility at Aldoga, to be delivered in the State Government’s partnership with Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s company, Fortescue Future Industries.
The government also touted it’s $5m investment for SeaLink Marine & Tourism to ferry workers from Gladstone to Curtis Island on one of Australia’s first renewable hydrogen-powered passenger vessels.
The budget also includes investment in previously announced projects on the Bruce Highway, including $500m for upgrades between Mackay and Proserpine and Gladstone and Rockhampton.
Gladstone MP, Glenn Butcher said he was proud to be part of a government prioritising jobs services and a “great lifestyle”.
“I’m a champion of this great community in parliament and am really happy to see major funding to projects, which are so important to the prosperity of Gladstone, funded in this budget,” Mr Butcher said.
“Education, transport, state development and our wonderful Gladstone Port are all winners today and I look forward to these projects coming to fruition,” he said.
“I know the cost of living is top-of-mind for many in the region, so to see $6.8 billion made available for a range of health, energy, water, transport and housing concessions is just fantastic.”
Federal Member for Flynn Colin Boyce has labelled the State Labor Government’s Budget as all ‘smoke and mirrors.’
Mr Boyce said he was pleased to see the State Labor Government had “bowed to public pressure” to address Mount Morgan’s water supplies.
“The issue is that the funding for the pipeline is spanned over three years and the detailed designs are not complete. How long will the pipeline take to get built so that the people of Mount Morgan can have a permanent water solution,” he said.
Mr Boyce said the Budget was full of “re-announcements”, citing the $3.5m for the Moura Multipurpose Health Service.
Mr Boyce also criticised that the State Government had been allocated $10m by the former federal Coalition for the redevelopment of the Emerald Hospital more than two years ago which remained unused.
“At the 2019 federal election, the Liberal National Government committed $10 million for this redevelopment. The State Labor Government has taken $10 million over two financial years and no work has taken place,” he said.
Mr Boyce also said Treasurer Dick’s decision to increase the royalty tax on coal exports will have a “flow-on effect” on the cost of living contributing to higher electricity prices and higher construction costs which will hit consumers.
Budget Investments for Gladstone
- Central Queensland Hydrogen Project (CQ-H2): $6.7 million in 2022-23 out of a $15.3 million total spend to co-fund the evaluation of a proposed CQ-H2 Hydrogen Project in Central Queensland as part of the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund.
- Gladstone State Development Area: $48.7 million in 2022-23 out of a $79.8 million total spend to develop infrastructure required to support the efficient delivery of major industrial expansion within the Gladstone State Development Area.
- Gladstone Port initiatives: $79.2 million for RG Tanna upgrades, a new shiploader, port services and Auckland Point Hill projects as part of the Regional Recovery Partnerships program.
- Gladstone Central State School: $2.7 million in 2022-23 out of a $5.8 million total spend to deliver a new hall.
- Toolooa State High School: $9.4 million in 2022-23 out of a $11 million total spend to construct a new building for additional
- learning spaces and a new hall.
- Calliope State High School: $4.5 million in 2022-23 out of a $13.8 million total spend to construct a new building for additional learning spaces.
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