Queensland budget: Toowoomba mayor welcomes Darling Downs investment

While it didn’t tick every box, Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said he was happy with the state budget’s investment in the region.

WHILE there were some items missing from the Queensland government’s budget released last week, Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said he was pleased to see money heading to the Darling Downs.

The state budget included $763m for productivity-enhancing infrastructure and capital works, estimated to support about 2500 jobs, $1.1bn for the Darling Downs and South West Hospital and Health Services and $67.7m to maintain and upgrade schools on the Darling Downs.

Mr Antonio said despite there being no commitment to a new Toowoomba Hospital, the announcement of $5.9m to build a two-theatre day-surgery unit at the Baillie Henderson Hospital campus was a “thin edge of the wedge” towards a full-scale upgrade.

“It was just last week that I was having a conversation with a senior official at one of the hospitals, and they’re working at about 130 per cent of their capacity at the moment. That’s tough stuff,” he said.

“We need a new hospital here in Toowoomba, that’s on the cards. The land is available, many things are available and we’re just waiting for the announcement, and I’m hoping that it’s not too far away. Health is the biggest employer in the Toowoomba region.”

Mr Antonio also welcomed the increased commitment to social housing in the Darling Downs.

“Social housing is seriously needed right across this region. No matter which town you go to whether it’s Toowoomba or some of the smaller towns they all need houses, there’s nothing available,” he said.

When it comes to spending on education, Mr Antonio said the funding to schools was a healthy sign for the future.

“There’s close to $37m going into schools across the region; that includes Clifton State High and Wilsonton State High, Highfields State School, Toowoomba West and Clifford Park special schools,” he said.

“There’s money going into tourism, particularly infrastructure on the Great Divide which we all know that part of our future is the development of the escarpment to attract people.

“The Wellcamp (Entertainment Precinct) proposal is still on the agenda and building our region’s water and wastewater infrastructure for the Darling Downs in the order of $55.4m.”