$94m Hervey Bay hospital expansion headlines Qld state budget

Hospital expansions, Olympic legacy funding, and first-home help headline the 2025 state budget, as a former Fraser Coast MP took aim at funding he described as “re-announced”.

Hospital expansions, Olympic legacy funding, and first home help headline the 2025 state budget, and its effects to be felt across the Fraser Coast after a former MP took aim at funding he describes as “re-announced”.

A former Fraser Coast MP has slammed the 2025 state budget as “re-announced” amid a big announcement about local hospital projects.

The state government is planning to spend big in the region as multiple projects from Gympie to Bundaberg will begin development.

A new Bundaberg Hospital, $94m extensions to Hervey Bay, and essential services upgrade to Maryborough will be delivered under the Hospital Rescue Plan, while $4.4bn will be invested into the rebuild of Paradise Dam.

The State Government also committed to the future of the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program “to support Maryborough jobs”.

Hervey Bay Hospital's expansion project.

Housing and home ownership were key aspects of David Crisafulli’s first budget, as Hervey Bay state MP David Lee said the Boost to Buy Program would “help people in Hervey Bay to buy a home in the most generous shared equity scheme in the nation”.

David Lee with the 2025 budget papers.

“The government will invest up to 30 per cent equity in new builds and 25 per cent for existing homes, up to a value of $1m,” he said.

“We are calmly and methodically laying strong foundations for affordable housing in Hervey Bay.

“Singles earning up to $150,000 and households with two adults earning up to $225,000 will be eligible under the $165m Boost to Buy program.”

Maryborough MP John Barounis said “important upgrades” in the town were being funded, including $7.2m to continue the delivery of the rural fire area brigade headquarters and $7m to complete the upgrade of the police facility.

Queensland LNP Members and candidates for the October 26, 2024 election – John Barounis LNP for Maryborough

Not all Wide Bay residents were left feeling content, with former Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders saying it is a “Labor budget”.

“All the projects that I fought for as part of the Miles Government have just been re-announced,” he said.

Mr Saunders said some projects outlined in the government’s budget, including the previously mentioned upgrade to the Rural Fire Brigade headquarters and also refurbishments to the TAFE centre, were repackaged by the LNP.

“There’s nothing new except a few little sweeteners,” he said.

“It’s actually a Labor budget with cuts.”

Former MP for Maryborough Bruce Saunders

He also expected major cuts to the Queensland Fire Department as regional residents were expected to shoulder the load of the 63,000-seat Olympic stadium.

“This is all about the stadium,” Mr Saunders said.

“200 staff are going to go from QFD across Queensland.

“All the billions that they are going to put into the new stadium will be at the expense of regional Queensland, particularly Maryborough.”

Originally published as $94m Hervey Bay hospital expansion headlines Qld state budget