Townsville state budget: How North Queensland fared in cash splash

A regional economist says North Queensland has ‘sort of’ got its fair share in the 2022-23 state budget. See the full breakdown of North Queensland funding here >>>

NORTH Queensland has “sort of” got its fair share in the 2022-23 budget, according to regional economist Colin Dwyer.

While it’s been labelled a record health budget, Mr Dwyer said there were still things missing.

”Townsville Region share of capital expenditure in Treasury papers is $769.4m which is 6% of total State Public Investment,” he said.

“But 84 per cent of Townsville region’s state public investment is concentrated in two portfolios, TMR and energy and public works.”

Mr Dwyer said the budget had increased taxes for business, and it was a deficit budget.

“But wages haven’t increased, public housing has been put in the too hard basket and the Olympics gets an indirect boost,” he said.

Mr Dwyer said in addition to the funding for more beds at the hospital, Townsville health staff would expect a “reasonable share” of new full-time equivalent health jobs.

“Overall, this budget is a Health focused budget that doesn’t offer any rewards for our dedicated health workers, despite last year’s surplus and other states offering better health sector rewards,” Mr Dwyer said.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

TOWNSVILLE University Hospital will get more than 140 new beds as part of a $9.78bn health infrastructure plan.

The funding comes after increasing pressure on hospitals, with TUH experiencing higher than average visitation to the emergency department this year.

The hospital has also been forced to call a number of Code Yellows, which occur when the hospital is at capacity and levers need to be pulled to free up space for emergency care.

The state government has made the announcement as part of its 2022-23 budget.

Concept image of the Townsville University Hospital upgrades.

The Townsville University Hospital will receive $530m for the 143 beds.

It is part of the $1.2bn in funding for the Townsville Hospital and Health Service in the budget.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state government was acting to address a bottleneck being experienced in every state in Australia.

“Every health Minister in the country has highlighted this problem,” the Premier said.

“There are hundreds of people in hospital beds who should be in aged or disability care.

“Add to that the hundreds more with Covid and the health workers who have Covid themselves and the problem is plain.

“No matter the cause of the problem, we are acting on a solution and part of that is investing in more health services and health infrastructure for Townsville.

There has been issues with high patient numbers at the Townsville University Hospital.

“That’s what good governments do.

“This is about planning for Queensland’s future health needs and safeguarding the health of Queenslanders.

“We’re delivering more beds, more doctors, more nurses and more ambos.

“It’s another example of my Government delivering better services right across Queensland.”

Mundingburra MP Les Walker said the hospital was at the heart of his seat.

“The government is demonstrating to Queenslanders once again its commitment to their health and welfare in what have been very challenging times for health authorities across Australia and the world,” he said.

“The people of Townsville deserve the best possible access to world class health care, and the government is making the necessary investments to achieve that,” added Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper. Picture: Evan Morgan

Health and Ambulance Minister Yvette D’Ath said the state budget would support growth in the health workforce.

Along with our significant investment in new hospitals and facilities, this year’s Budget provides $6.78 billion in additional operational funding over the next four years to deliver on our commitment to employ an extra 9,475 staff in this term of government,” Minister D’Ath said.

“Investment in our healthcare workforce is vital – they are our greatest asset, and the reason Queenslanders continue to receive first-class healthcare every day.”

Minister D’Ath said the budget included $1.1 billion for the Queensland Ambulance Service, an 11 per cent increase compared to the previous financial year.

“The investment will help the service prioritise regional and rural services to ensure accessible healthcare no matter the location, as well as recruit more frontline staff, and open new facilities,” she said.

“Modernising the QAS will ensure the service continues to meet the healthcare needs of Queenslanders now and into the future.”

Minister D’Ath said the budget was injecting an additional $1.64 billion into the state over five years to improve mental health and wellbeing and combat substance abuse.

“It’s an opportunity to dedicate resources and funding to support initiatives under a new five-year plan for mental health, alcohol, and other drug services,” Ms D’Ath said.

>>The government will also invest $17.3 million in 2022-23 out of a $54.3 million total

spend for the refurbishment of the Adult Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit to improve safety and refurbishment of shell space into a new 33 bed ward. This will be delivered in partnership with the Australian Government.

>>The budget includes $6,280 in 2022-23 out of a $2.1 million total spend to deliver additional renal dialysis treatment spaces at Charters Towers Hospital as part of the government’s Rural and Regional Renal

program

BUDGET SNAPSHOT

ROAD UPGRADES

MORE than 232.8m will be spent on road upgrades in North Queensland in the next 12 months.

The state government’s budget has broken down the proposed cash splash for the Northern region, with $232,843,000 expected to be spent in this financial year.

This includes $83,500,000 for the Townsville Ring Road Stage 5, and $20,649,000 for the Townsville Northern Access Intersections Upgrade.

More than $5.6m will be spent on the Bruce Highway from Bowen to Ayr, and $13.8m on the Flinders Highway between Townsville and Charters Towers.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

ABOUT $1m will be spent on the new Kirwan Police Station, which is expected to take over the land that currently houses the former 1300Smiles Stadium.

The government has it’s future expenditure on the project set at $28.8m, with the budget papers showing it has already spent $120,000.

The demolition of the former home of the Cowboys is expected to cost up to $10m.

The new Burdell Ambulance Station and Townsville District Office has been allocated $2m in this budget, with an additional $4.978m to be invested into the future.

The budget also includes $3.2m for the acquisition of land for the new fire and emergency services facility in South Townsville.

$100,000 will also be spent on the Palm Island multi-agency community safety facility. The whole project is expected to cost $18,000.

SCHOOLS FUNDING

THE new hall at Pimlico State High School will receive about $4.8m this year, with an additional $4,889,000 expected to be released for the project in the future.

The school will also receive $403,000 for additional specialist classrooms.

Bwgcolman Community School on Palm Island will receive $2,070,000 for administration upgrades, the school has already received $1.08 for the project.

Heatley Secondary College will receive $568,000 for a new commercial kitchen. The school received $292,000 last year for the project.

Thuringowa State High School will receive $785,000 to upgrade skills and development training facilities. It will also receive partial funding for a new school hall at $2.4m.

The budget includes $1.6m for the Townsville Community Learning Centre for additional classrooms, and $2.57m for a new halls. This is partial funding for both projects.

CASH FOR KIDSTON

MORE than $140.2m will be invested in connecting the Kidston Pumped Hydro Project to the National Electricity Grid as part of the state government’s renewable investment.

This forms the bulk of the project, with it expected to cost $258.2m all up. An additional $62.08m is expected to be spent on the project into the future.

Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Minister Mick de Brenni said the state government wanted to ensure Queensland had a future in renewables.

“This budget ensures Queensland will maintain its standing as a national energy leader for many years to come,” Mr de Brenni said.

“It will also ensure Queenslanders maintain a stake in their energy future through their publicly owned energy corporations, with the retention of dividends supporting continued renewable energy, storage and strategic network investments for the benefit of all Queenslanders.

“We are continuing to invest in those corporations to ensure reliable, clean and affordable power for Queenslanders at a time it has never been more important to do so.”

Mr de Brenni said the work for the Kidston Pumped Hydro Project was backed by a $40m investment to upgrade the transmission lines between Townsville and Cairns as part of the Northern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the new energy investment would complement the state’s existing $2bn Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund.

“This fund is enabling our government owned generators to remain competitive by expanding their fleets to include cutting-edge renewables,” Mr Dick said.

“Renewables create jobs, lower power prices and help our state reduce emissions.”

The state government will invest $1.41 billion to improve electricity supply through Energy Queensland, which services some 2.3 million Queenslanders across the Energex and Ergon Energy and Yurika networks.

CASH SPLASH ON WATER

MILLIONS has been committed for water projects across the North and North West as part of the 2022-23 state budget.

The state government has committed $26m to the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct for enabling infrastructure, including a reservoir and a 13km pipeline, connecting the precinct and pump station to the Haughton Pipeline.

An additional $2.4m will be released for Lansdown this year to help fund road and rail infrastructure. All up, the road and rail infrastructure projects are expected to cost $12m.

Mayor Jenny Hill said the funding promised matches funding promised during the federal election by the Albanese government.

“This will ensure the construction of key trunk infrastructure is funded through the State and Federal Governments,” Cr Hill said.

“It shows the value of this project to the Queensland Government’s vision for the State to become an advanced manufacturing and hydrogen-producing powerhouse.”

The Hughenden community will benefit from $25.6m for the development of the Flinders Shire Council’s Hughenden Water Bank project. This project includes a 7000ML, off-steam water storage and distribution system to support the development and expansion of irrigated agriculture and industry development.

Regional Development and Water Minister Glenn Butcher said these funds could be released quickly, once the projects had been thoroughly assessed and the relevant business cases, which are nearly complete, had been submitted.

“We’ve heard from regional Queenslanders that these are the projects that are important to them. We are ready to continue supporting regional Queensland communities because we know water is critical to jobs, growth and liveability in these regions,” he said.

Originally published as Townsville state budget: How North Queensland fared in cash splash