Your indepth Queensland Budget day guide for Gympie region

It’s been a mixed bag for regional and rural communities as the Queensland Government delivers this year’s state budget. Here’s where Gympie region stands.

THE Gympie region may not have got the biggest slice of the Queensland Budget pie this year but local road-users were the big winners as Treasurer Cameron Dick confirmed a raft of announcements during the annual lockdown in the State Parliament.

The Times can confirm road infrastructure projects are high on the budget agenda as funding for the $107m Bruce Highway (Gympie to Maryborough), Tiaro Bypass project was re-affirmed as $2.5 million was set aside for the 2021-22 financial year.

About $180m will go towards the Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Section D construction. This massive $1 billion project will see a 26 kilometre four-lane divided highway from Woondum to Curra.

The Government has also committed $31.7m ti the Bruce Highway (Maryborough to Gin Gin) Saltwater Creek upgrade of bridges and floodways project.

Meanwhile, Mary Valley State College will get $500,000 to improve the school’s water supply.

The Rainbow Beach replacement auxiliary fire and rescue station has $1.6 million set aside in 2021-22 for its $2.5 million project.

Stage one of the $1.4m Cooloola Coast Esplanade Revitalisation project received $549,400 for the construction and upgrade of pedestrian and cycle pathways to Tin Can Bay.

Seasonal workers and agriculture businesses in the Wide Bay area – which covers Bundaberg, the Burnett, Fraser Coast and Gympie - will also benefit from the state-wide four-year $71.4m Drought Assistance and Reform Package and the $2.6m Pacific Labour Scheme and Seasonal Worker Program.

The Queensland Government says a total of 310 Wide Bay district businesses will benefit next financial year from its higher payroll tax threshold.