Breakdown of federal budget’s $500m Far North investment
A massive multimillion-dollar cash splash will transform the Far North after the handing down of the federal budget on Tuesday night. Here is a budget breakdown on everything you need to know about changes coming to our region.
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A MASSIVE multimillion-dollar cash splash will transform the Far North following the handing down of the federal budget on Tuesday night — but some changes are still years away.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, delivering his first budget, played it safe and ticked off all Labor’s major election pledges to the Far North.
Funding for the $150m Cairns Marine Precinct expansion, $210m for the Kuranda Range Rd, the $50m CQUniversity Cairns CBD campus, the $107.5m Cairns water security package and $15m to Tourism Tropical North Queensland for international tourism recovery were all included in the 2022/23 federal budget.
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said while everyone was watching out for the major commitments, he was keeping a close eye on smaller but still crucial Far North Labor promises.
A $40m marine infrastructure upgrade in the Torres Strait, $1m TAFE health hub on Thursday Island, $500,000 for a community battery in Cairns North, $50,000 for Redlynch State College’s nature playground, $50,000 for Mossman State Primary School’s tennis court shed and $50,000 to Wonga Beach State School’s covered walkways were Labor pre-election promises that Mr Entsch was keen to see funded.
Member for Kennedy Bob Katter said all-together, the budget was “very good” for Far North Queensland — particularly farmers and those living in more remote areas.
Labor has funded $30m worth of improvements to telecommunications and farmers’ on-farm connectivity and black spots nationwide, $110m nationally for mobile black spots – including along the Kuranda Range Road and along the Bruce Highway at Fishery Falls, and the Farmer Household Allowance Scheme.
They’re all “vital” investments into regional areas, according to Mr Katter.
He said it’d save lives.
Happy to see the Labor government honour its commitments, Jacinta Reddan, CEO of Advance Cairns, said the confirmation of funding for major Far North projects was a “win for the region”.
“It’s really wonderful to see the region has been listened to,” she said.
“It looks like (some of the) funding falls over six years, we would have preferred to see it sooner … but we’re delighted to see more details.”
Labor Senator Nita Green said the budget was “just the beginning” in building a better future for Australians.
“Our Government is clear in our support for regional Queensland communities, providing record investment in the industries that need it the most,” she said.
What’s in the books for Far North?
$15m International Recovery
Far North tourism leaders were relieved to learn they will receive a much needed $15m of funding to stimulate and attract international tourism, after the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic left the industry with a $1bn hole.
Mark Olsen, CEO of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, said the long-awaited announcement would give the industry the backing needed to bring back international markets sooner.
“This three-year investment will generate more than $100 million of additional international visitor spend and support nearly 1000 jobs in our community,” he said.
“TTNQ has begun work in the international markets by reconnecting with key trade and media in North America, Europe, the UK, Japan and Southeast Asia and there is strong interest in our nature-based destination.
“With this funding we can take Tropical North Queensland’s ‘See Great. Leave Greater’ promise to entice international visitors back to our world-class destination.”
$1.2bn by 2030 for Great Barrier Reef
More money will be poured into the Great Barrier Reef with the Labor Government upping the target to $1.2bn by 2030.
The funding will go towards reef protection and restoration and analyse gaps in the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan.
$15.3m of the total funding will be allocated for the completion of the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre in Gladstone to manage the reef amid worsening climate.
$107.5m Water Security Package
Cairns’ critical $107.5m water security package was confirmed by the Labor Party pre-election and appeared in the budget — good news for a region that was forecasting a drinking water shortfall by 2026 without appropriate funding.
Concerns surround the adequacy of the $215m committed by the state and federal governments after Cairns Regional Council in August said with climbing cost of living and inflationary pressures, an estimated $248m was instead needed — an appeal council later retracted.
Cairns mayor Bob Manning said funding for stage one of the project took financial pressure off Cairns water users.
“We have been very clear from day one that the Cairns community should not be expected to fund this project alone. Having $215 million of committed funding will alleviate much of the burden on the residents of Cairns,” Cr Manning said.
Stage one will take and treat water from Mulgrave River for the region’s drinking supply. Construction is expected to start in 2024.
$210m Kuranda Range
Confirmed in the federal budget was the $210m pre-election pledge for the safety and resilience improvements for the Kuranda Range Rd.
Advance Cairns CEO Jacinta Reddantold the Cairns Post ahead of budget night that funding was critical for the Kuranda Range Rd, as motorists would endure ongoing traffic accidents, hour-long delays and fatal incidents without serious upgrades.
With the funding set in stone, the cash will go towards upgrading safety features.
There’s already state government technical works under way installing intelligent transport systems and conduits along a 1.7km stretch of the range.
After months of pushing for $22m of the $210m to go towards a feasibility report to explore alternative solutions to the Kuranda Range Rd, Mr Entsch said he would continue campaigning for a report.
$13.2m James Cook University
Another election pledge, over the next three years James Cook University will receive $13.2 million to go towards 20 additional and ongoing Commonwealth supported places at it’s new medical school in Cairns, which is set to welcome students from 2023.
$49.2m Cairns Smart Centre
With $49.2m over four years, and $15.6m per year ongoing, the government will support the employment of an additional 100 staff in Services Australia’s Cairns Smart Centre.
The staff will support service delivery and customers across the Far North.
$50m CQUniversity
The inclusion of $50m for the CQUniversity Cairns City campus in the federal budget was long-expected and confirmed ahead of Tuesday night.
CQU associate vice president Far North Jodie Duignan-George said the budget announcement was the “next step in this process” with the signing of deeds and gaining relevant approvals for development next on the agenda.
“At this state, exact timing is still unknown,” she said.
“Once we do commence, we are aiming for a two-year construction time frame.”
Ms Duignan-George said the “modern, purpose-built campus” will include a library, state-of-art laboratories for engineering and health related studies, collaborative study spaces, workspaces and learning and teaching facilities.
“Accommodation is not part of this campus plan, but we will work with local enterprise to find solutions for student accommodation in the region,” she said.
$150m Cairns Marine Precinct
The federal government has matched state government’s commitment dollar by dollar with $150m funding to go towards the $300m Cairns marine expansion — over six years.
The multimillion-dollar cash injection will boost maintenance, repair capabilities and the number of ships the precinct can service.
CEO of Norship, Olav Groot said the commitment to the Cairns port was an essential enabler in the Far North, with more vessels in survey in the region, serviced by the port, than any other.
He said he was also anticipating ongoing investment in existing ship maintenance infrastructure and in existing Port North leaseholds.
“Add to that the fact that Cairns is the gateway to the Pacific and Great Barrier Reef and it makes perfect sense to ensure that there is a sustainable contemporary port with maintenance infrastructure, now and into the future,” he said.
“The master plan for the port has been long overdue, but it has now been published. This will provide confidence to the marine sector.”
$24.8m Yellow, Crazy Ants
Cairns and Townsville will share in the $24.8m funding to tackle yellow crazy ants, with funding to be rolled out over the next four years.
Invasive Species Council conservation director James Trezise said the investment couldn’t be more timely.
“This investment will help safeguard the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, one of the oldest rainforests in the world, along with an internationally significant wetland,” he said.
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