QLD budget 2022-23: Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday winners and losers
The budget is here and there is good and bad news for Mackay, Isaac and the Whitsundays. Find out who has come out on top.
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A stunning resources royalties boon has led to a bumper health budget for the regions but some key projects across the Mackay region have missed out.
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick, who handed down the state budget on Tuesday, said it heavily focused on health spending.
“It is a budget that puts health care first,” he said.
“It is a budget to propel us from times of tremendous disruption and turbulence towards a
brighter horizon.
“A new era is dawning for Queensland.
“We are taking advantage of global shifts, like decarbonisation and digitalisation, to realise
opportunities in our traditional and emerging industries and to help create more jobs.
“We are building the infrastructure for tomorrow.
“We are providing better services for all Queenslanders.
“And we are doing all of this, without compromising our cherished lifestyle.”
Here are the winners and losers for the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region.
Winners
Health
The budget allocates $562.2m to Mackay HHS for upgrades and expansions, including 128 extra beds for Mackay Base Hospital.
On top of that, $250m will go towards Mackay Base to expand the hospital by the 2026-27 financial year.
Proserpine Hospital receives $5 million in 2022-23 out of a $7.9 million total spend for the refurbishment of the clinical assimilation training area and acute primary care clinic upgrade.
The budget allocates funding for a new hospital in Moranbah - part of a $943.5m funding bucket including two other hospitals and two other health facilities.
The Mackay Community Mental Health refurbishment receives $2m in 2022-23 and then $3.725m post 2023.
The new Sarina Hospital receives $20.6m this year from the full $31.5m commitment.
Students in Mackay and the Whitsundays
$37.8m has been allocated to upgrade schools across Mackay and the Whitsundays.
Mackay Northern Beaches State High School receives $722,000 to upgrade skills development and training facilities.
Mackay Northern Beaches State High School receives $4.38m this year and then $1.46m post 2023 for additional classrooms.
Moranbah East State School receives $5.29m for additional classrooms.
Moranbah State High School receives $3.4m for additional classrooms.
Proserpine State High School receives $606,000 for additional specialist classrooms.
Dysart State High School receives $555,000 to upgrade skills development and training facilities.
Clermont State High School receives $773,000 to upgrade skills development and training facilities.
Bowen State High School receives $642,000 to upgrade skills development and training facilities.
Capella State School receives $1.1 million in 2022-23 out of a $1.8 million total spend to upgrade the administration building.
Motorists
Mackay-Whitsundays receives a total $220.8m in road funding in 2022-23, including:
Peak Downs Highway (Clermont-Nebo), Wuthung Road to Caval Ridge Mine, widen and strengthen pavement – $5.89m
Mackay Port Access, Bruce Highway to Mackay – Slade Point Road, construct new two lane road – $9.5m (part of a $350m spend)
Mackay Northern Access Upgrade – construct additional lanes – $6.09m
Bruce Highway Funding (Mackay-Proserpine and Bowen-Ayr) – $32.4m
Blue Mountain Road, Scrubby Creek and Hut Creek – replace timber bridges – $2.5m
For the $186.6m Walkerston Bypass project, the already-allocated $56.5m will be this in 2022-23 to help construct a new two-lane highway connecting Peak Downs Highway to the Mackay Ring Road.
The police and victims of Domestic and Family Violence
The Mackay courthouse will be upgraded as part of a broader $49.1m spend over four years on capital upgrades across the state.
The budget states there will be “new DFV courtrooms and safe rooms, reconfigured registry counters, public waiting areas and interview rooms, improved stakeholder facilities, public amenities and security infrastructure, to maximise victim safety”.
The Mackay Police will receive $1.05m to upgrade its facility.
Social housing
$23.7m has been allocated to social housing in Mackay and the Whitsundays.
The Port of Mackay
$7.6 million has been allocated for maintenance of the Mackay Port, replacement of the Middle Breakwater fuel line supports and studies for hydrogen trade for ports overseen by North Queensland Bulk Ports.
Future Planning for the Resources Sector
The budget allocates $68.5m over five years to execute the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan, designed to guide growth in the sector for the long-term.
The Resources Centre of Excellence receives $5.7 million over three years to fund a new future industries development hub at the Mackay Resources Centre of Excellence, expanding the centre’s reach into the new economy minerals sector.
Great Barrier Reef
$1 million to enhance public boat moorings and improve visitor access to the Great Barrier Reef islands.
$1 million to acquire land to enhance environmental protection of the Great Barrier Reef islands.
$3.5m over three years to continue the Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program
Other
$650,000 out of a $22.7 million total spend to complete a detailed business case, approvals, environmental impact statements and cultural heritage and Native Title review of the Urannah Water Scheme.
$640,000 from a total $1m spend to support the development of a business case for the Future Foods Biohub in Mackay.
Losers
Resource companies
The budget introduces new royalty rates for resources firms, designed to extract more revenue as coal prices escalate.
The additional rates kick in at $175 per tonne.
Mackay-Bucasia Rd
Despite community frustration with this clogged commuter route, the budget has not allocated new funding to Mackay-Bucasia Rd.
Pioneer Valley
The budget does not allocate funding for the proposed Pioneer Valley mountain bike trails.
Mackay waterfront
Mackay’s waterfront redevelopment aspirations have also lost out, with no new funding allocations presented this year.
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