Rocky MP lauds ‘massive investment; for the CQ region in state budget

From a focus on health, roads, sporting facilities to youth crime prevention, see the full list of Rockhampton, Gladstone, Livingstone, Central Highlands and Banana budget funding highlights here.

Treasurer David Janetzki and Premier of Queensland David Crisafulli deliver the State Budget on Tuesday June 24, 2025. Picture, John Gass

A strong focus on health, roads, sporting facilities youth crime prevention and education were major funding highlights for Central Queensland in the State Budget handed down today, June 26

Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland said the budget delivered “massive investment” into the region.

“We’ve got a wonderful high school coming for Gracemere, the CQ TAFE excellence precinct and the health services academy all coming to Rockhampton and Central Queensland,” she said in a statement.

“We have an incredible investment announced into the Rockhampton Regional Council’s sports precincts well as we have our youth, mental health step-up, step-down facility, and so much more.”

Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland with plans for the Rockhampton Hospital upgrade.

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

Rockhampton

• $100 million to construct a new secondary school (Stage 1) in Gracemere.
• $95m for a Health Sciences Academy in Rockhampton.
• A Crime Prevention School in Central Queensland.
• Central Queensland will be the site of the first of two Step Up, Step Down youth mental health facilities providing subacute mental healthcare, and bridging the transition between hospital treatment and outpatient treatment.
  
• $61.1 million for a new TAFE Excellence Precinct to put more tradies on tools, allow expanded facilities for Rockhampton Hospital and unlock surplus land for 200 additional homes.
  
• $47 million for Rockhampton Sports Precinct Stage 1 to build a new home for netball with 16 outdoor courts, club house and changeroom facilities and community play spaces, as part of the Games On! Grassroots Infrastructure Program.
• Ongoing funding for the $1.98 billion to construct the Rockhampton Ring Road delivered in partnership with the Australian Government.
• Rockhampton Neighbourhood Centre$6.4 million to complete the construction of a new neighbourhood centre.
• $36.9 million for the delivery of a cardiac hybrid theatre at Rockhampton Hospital to support a wide range of cardiovascular procedures, as part of the Hospital Rescue Plan.
• $91.9 million for the refurbishment and delivery of an expansion to the Rockhampton Hospital mental health ward, as part of the Hospital Rescue Plan.
  
• Rockhampton Community Child and Youth Mental Health Facility fit-out, $2.2 million for the refurbishment of the building for delivery of community Mental health alcohol and other drugs (MHAOD) services
• $24.3 million for more frontline clinicians for Central Queensland, with additional funding in 2025-26 to grow the workforce to 3,726 (FTE) across Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.
  
• $4.5 million to deliver a bigger and better ‘Beef 2027’.
• Delivering a Future Directions Feasibility Study into tourism development opportunities in Mount Morgan.
• $200,000 for amenity upgrades including female changerooms.

Donna Kirkland, David Crisafulli, Glen Kelly and Tony Williams celebrate the Olympic rowing events coming to CQ with Rockhampton Fitzroy Rowing Club members.

Livingstone

• Purchasing land for a future high school at Emu Park, in partnership with Livingstone Shire Council, as part of the School and Education Boost funding.
• $4.2 million to construct Stage 3 of the Yeppoon landfill to provide an additional 12 years of waste capacity and support long-term regional waste management needs.
• Capricorn Coast Netball Association. $4.5 million to upgrade eight grass courts to hardcourts with a full lighting upgrade at Barmaryee Sports Complex.

Central Highlands

• Delivering additional learning spaces at Emerald State High School.
• $27,500 to install a concrete slab in Andy’s Yard at the Emerald Saleyards to improve safety, usability and livestock handling capacity.
• Delivering 3 renal dialysis chairs for Emerald.
• $9.3 million to upgrade the Emerald Hospital Central Sterilising Services, as part of the newly uplifted Timely Investment Infrastructure Maintenance program.
• $75,000 to deliver a business case for a new All Sports Facility in Emerald $32.3 million for the management and mitigation of significant public safety, health and environmental risks at high-risk abandoned mine sites, including in Central Queensland

Banana Shire

• $300,000 to rehabilitate and widen the concrete floodway to improve flood immunity on Jambin Goovigen Road, Banana Shire.
• Moura Multipurpose Healthcare Service , $33.9 million to deliver an additional 7 residential aged care beds, increasing current capacity to a total of 8 beds, as part of the Hospital Rescue Plan.
• Biloela Staff Accommodation Replacement Staff accommodation will be replaced in Biloela providing appropriate, safe and fit-for-purpose accommodation, as part of the Hospital Rescue Plan.
• Progression of the planning stage for the Biloela Hospital as part of the Hospital Rescue Plan.
  

Gladstone Region

• Gladstone Transmission Project $2.485 billion to develop transmission infrastructure to ensure ongoing energy reliability and security of supply to the Gladstone area.
• $300,000 for Calliope State School towards upgrading the pick up/drop off zone.

Central Qld

• More social and community housing
• $95 million to expand and improve social and community housing in Central Queensland, with 147 social homes in construction or under contract towards the delivery of 53,500 social and community homes by 2044.
  

Regional Reset Program

• Commencing delivery of nine short stay programs for youth who are demonstrating high-risk behaviours, including in Central Queensland.

Crime Prevention Schools

• Supporting the establishment of Crime Prevention Schools to re-engage youth who have disengaged from mainstream education at risk of falling into crime, including in Central Queensland.
• Step Up, Step Down Mental Health Facility. Delivering 2 specialist youth mental health facilities, including one in Central Queensland.

Originally published as Rocky MP lauds ‘massive investment; for the CQ region in state budget