FULL LIST: Gold Coast gets M1 upgrades, light rail green light in 2020 Queensland State Budget

Bulletin readers have jumped on to the state budget and what it means for the Gold Coast - with some aspects in particular coming in for criticism. HAVE YOUR SAY

• ‘It’s been so tough’: Tears flow at Gold Coast Airport
• Revealed: Surge in traffic volumes on key Gold Coast roads

BULLETIN readers have been quick to jump on to the state budget and what it means for the Gold Coast - with some aspects in particular coming in for criticism.

“My tax is building a 2.5 million realty television hub ??...... Are we not already dumb enough ????? does labor need to create more voters,,, i though growing the public service was the strategy,” Colin wrote.

Brendan added: “Light rail.... what an absolute waste of our money.”

Joel said: "$50.4 Million to destroy Broadbeach to Burleigh, cause loss of lifestyle, destruction of small business, and cause more traffic gridlock, increase crime and slum overdevelopment."

READ ALL THE COMMENTS BELOW

FULL REPORT

TREASURER Cameron Dick says there are no plans to fast-track major road transport projects across the Gold Coast to deal with the city’s rapidly growing population.

Business and political leaders have called for the State Government to commit greater funding to projects such as the Coomera Connector and light rail’s fourth stage to stimulate the economy and bring forward their completion dates.

But Mr Dick said the existing construction schedules were more than adequate to deal with the city’s growth.

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Artist impression of the Coomera Connector (Second M1) on the Gold Coast.

He said the government’s transport spending was “significant”

“That’s what we committed we would do in the election and that is what we will now deliver,” he said.

“I think the (existing) investments are going to (lessen the pain on motorists). I think those investments will deliver than dividend.

“I think Queenslanders will be confident that we are delivering the road infrastructure we promised.”

More than $750 million was committed to the Coomera Connector ahead of the October election, while $2.5 million was set aside for a business case in the light rail extension to Gold Coast Airport.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Treasurer Cameron Dick speak during a press conference at the Queensland Budget lockup at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

While there was no surprise increase in transport spending, Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the State Government’s commitments.

“This would have been a very challenging budget to deliver after the impact of COVID-19 but it is a fair budget and our city has benefited across a range of sectors,” he said.

“Transport and schools appear top of the agenda so far as their investment in our city. The $145 million towards Varsity Lakes works on the M1 is great news as is the Exit 41 and 49 upgrades.

“The budget has confirmed their support for the film industry with $2.5 million towards developing a ‘reality TV hub’ on the coast. This is cracking news for our industry.”

TUESDAY: $1.134 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE SPEND

THE Gold Coast’s road to recovery from COVID-19 will be built on the back of record $1.134 billion infrastructure spend focusing on M1 upgrades, the new Coomera Connector and extension of the light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh.

At least 3500 jobs will be created by the massive capital works program which does not include spending on health ($1.7b), education ($133m), social housing ($63.6m), TAFES ($28.7m) and growing tourism infrastructure ($16.8m).

State Budget papers reveal the Glitter Strip was one of the hardest hit regions by coronavirus restrictions with the number of employee jobs, between March and April, falling by more than 10 per cent.

But Treasury officials, after tracking a recent rebounding in the economy and the Queensland-NSW border being opened on Tuesday, are not factoring in a second wave of the virus.

Instead, there is strong optimism with employment tipped to rise by about 6.75 per cent by mid next year. The recent June quarter is now regarded as the low point in the COVID economic cycle.

Treasurer Cameron Dick, during his Budget speech to State Parliament, said: “The next four years will be a hard road for Queensland as we recover from COVID-19. There is no point trying to pretend otherwise.

“The opening of the borders today is a signal of hope and a sign of confidence in the plan that has brought us this far.

“It means more flights, more accommodation bookings, more activity to support jobs throughout our tourist regions.

Artist impressions of the $1 billion Gold Coast M1 upgrade between Varsity Lakes and Tugun. Picture: Supplied

“It means more chances for families to reunite, especially as the songs of the holiday season and the hymns of Christmas start to fill the air.”

At least 13 of the 31 key Coast spending items in the State Budget are in the city’s north with the focus on transport, health and school improvements.

The Coast’s $1.134b infrastructure spend compares to $1.607b for tourism rival Sunshine Coast. Brisbane and Redlands received $4.738b, while Ipswich and Logan received $802 million and $666 million respectively.

The key spending items for the next 12 months include:

* $145 million on widening the Pacific Motorway from six lanes between Varsity Lakes and Tugun.

* $50.4 million on extending the trams from Broadbeach to Burleigh as part of light rail Stage 3A.

* a southern satellite hospital as part of $265 million spend

* $12.9 million for the first stage of the Coomera Connector with focus on Coomera and Nerang river crossings.

* $10.2 million upgrade of the Exit 41 at Yatala South on the M1.

* $22.7 million on a new special school at Coomera

* $18.8 million to refurbish and redevelop Gold Coast TAFEs.

* $10 million over four years to construct a new multipurpose hall at Currumbin State High School.

The Treasurer described the Budget as “pro-business and pro-growth” with no surprises, and no new or increased taxes delivering the election promises made before the October poll.

He said the single most important task for the government was creating jobs.

This will be Mr Dick’s first state budget. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

An expected 86,000 people will migrate to Queensland from interstate across the next four years and “when these people get to Queensland, they will want a job”.

About $74 million will be spent on fast tracking the tourism recovery, with the focus on the domestic market given a vaccine for COVID is unlikely to be available until the second half of next year impacting on international travel.

“Treasury modelling assumes it may take as long as four years before the impact of COVID-19 on employment is fully offset,” Mr Dick said.

The Treasurer admitted COVID had caused a revenue collapse, down $12.3 billion on predictions made mid-year.

Mr Dick said it would be reckless to promise a budget surplus and borrowing would continue to increase with non-financial public sector debt to reach $130 billion at the end of the forward estimates, but much less than the scenario faced by NSW.

GOLD COAST QUEENSLAND STATE BUDGET FUNDING

• Pacific Motorway Exit 41 (Yatala South): $10.2m to upgrade motorway interchange, out of $82.1m total spend.
• Ormeau Woods State School: $3.7m to construct new building with extra classrooms, out of $9.8m total spend.
• Pacific Motorway Exit 49 (Pimpama): $5m to upgrade motorway interchange, out of $110.5m total spend.
• Pimpama new police facility: $1.5m to continue new police station, out of $6.1m total spend.
• Picnic Creek State School: $4.1m to construct new building with extra classrooms, out of $11.1m total spend.
• New Coomera special school: $22,7m to construct new school, out of $46.1m total spend.
• Coomera Connector Stage 1 (Coomera to Nerang) Queensland Government funding commitment: $12.9m for additional crossings of Coomera and Nerang Rivers, of a total $1.531b total spend.
• Helensvale North Train Station: Commitment to build new train station.
• Pacific Motorway Exit 57: $6.2m to upgrade the motorway interchange, out of $25m total spend.
• Pacific Pines State High School: $10m to construct new building with extra classrooms, out of $26m total spend.
• Gold Coast University Hospital: $2.3m to improve facilities including a new Secure Mental Health Unit, out of $111.4m total spend.
• Southport Special School: $1m to incorporate bus and taxi set down.
• Gold Coast Parklands Health and Knowledge Precinct: $4m to develop a 9.5ha Health and Knowledge Precinct within the Parklands Priority Development Area, of a total $33.4m spend.
• Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A: $50.4m to extend the rail from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads, of a $709.9m total spend. In partnership with Australian Government and Gold Coast City Council.
• Good Money Store: $582,046 to continue the Good Money store in Southport. In partnership with Good Shepherd Microfinance and National Australia Bank.
• Southport Ambulance Station: $749k to upgrade the Ambulance Operations Centre and redevelop the ambulance station, of a $10.2m total spend.
• Nerang State High School: $5m over three years for the refurbishment of the multipurpose hall.
• Miami State High School: $10m over four years to construct a new indoor sports facility.
• Robina Hospital: $6.5m for construction projects to improve facilities, of a $10m total spend.
• Robina TAFE Campus: $10m for fit-out at the new campus.
• Gold Coast District Cricket Club: $286,858 to add a women’s changing room as part of the Female Facilities Program, of a $500k total spend.
• Southern Gold Coast Satellite Hospital: Part of a $265m total spend to deliver seven Satellite Hospitals to enable acute hospitals to manage patients via alternative models of care.
• Palm Beach State School: $4.8m to construct new building with extra classrooms, of a $10.6m total spend.
• Pacific Motorway (Varsity Lakes to Tugun): $145m to widen the M1 to six lanes between Varsity Lakes and Tugun, of a $1b total spend. In partnership with the Australian Government.
• Palm Beach Community Health Centre: $920,260 to replace two passenger lifts and existing chillers, airconditioning units, duct work, diffusers, pumps and piping, of a $1.4m total spend.
• Palm Beach Currumbin State School: $10m over four years to construct a new multipurpose hall.
• Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club: $2m to upgrade the clubhouse including disability access on the ground floor.
• Robina Raptors Junior Rugby League Football Club: $253,142 to construct change rooms and amenities to support female participation in rugby league and football, of a $378,700 total spend.
• Piggabeen Road Eco-parkland: $500,000 to transform site into a 148ha eco-parkland with recreational and eco-tourism facilities and protections for local koala habitats, of a $1.5m total spend.
• Tweed Coolangatta Junior Australian Football Club: $268,858 to build a female changing room, of a $500,000 total spend.
• Springbrook National Park: $746k to replace visitor infrastructure at Natural Bridge in Springbrook National Park, of a $750,000 total spend.
• Gondwana Rainforests: $275k to enhance awareness of First Nations culture and cultural engagement. In partnership with the Traditional Owners.
• Gold Coast TAFEs: $18.8m to redevelop, refurbish and expand six high-need Gold Coast TAFE facilities, of a $28.7m total spend.
• Manufacturing Hub: $500k to deliver a manufacturing hub and grants program focusing on transport equipment and vehicles, food processing and metal products, of a $4.5m total spend.
• Screen Queensland: $2.5m for a reality television hub on the Gold Coast, of a $5m total spend.

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Originally published as FULL LIST: Gold Coast gets M1 upgrades, light rail green light in 2020 Queensland State Budget