QLD budget 2022-23: Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday winners and losers

The budget is here and there is good and bad news for Mackay, Isaac and the Whitsundays. Find out who has come out on top.

A stunning resources royalties boon has led to a bumper health budget for the regions but some key projects across the Mackay region have missed out.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick, who handed down the state budget on Tuesday, said it heavily focused on health spending.

“It is a budget that puts health care first,” he said.

“It is a budget to propel us from times of tremendous disruption and turbulence towards a

brighter horizon.

“A new era is dawning for Queensland.

“We are taking advantage of global shifts, like decarbonisation and digitalisation, to realise

opportunities in our traditional and emerging industries and to help create more jobs.

“We are building the infrastructure for tomorrow.

“We are providing better services for all Queenslanders.

“And we are doing all of this, without compromising our cherished lifestyle.”

Queensland government regional action plan papers for Mackay Isaac Whitsunday in the 2022-23 state budget.

Here are the winners and losers for the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region.

Winners

Health

The budget allocates $562.2m to Mackay HHS for upgrades and expansions, including 128 extra beds for Mackay Base Hospital.

On top of that, $250m will go towards Mackay Base to expand the hospital by the 2026-27 financial year.

Proserpine Hospital receives $5 million in 2022-23 out of a $7.9 million total spend for the refurbishment of the clinical assimilation training area and acute primary care clinic upgrade.

Proserpine Hospital. Picture: Laura Thomas

The budget allocates funding for a new hospital in Moranbah - part of a $943.5m funding bucket including two other hospitals and two other health facilities.

The Mackay Community Mental Health refurbishment receives $2m in 2022-23 and then $3.725m post 2023.

The new Sarina Hospital receives $20.6m this year from the full $31.5m commitment.

Design plans for the new $31.5 million Sarina Hospital along Brewers Road, Sarina. Picture: Contributed

Students in Mackay and the Whitsundays

$37.8m has been allocated to upgrade schools across Mackay and the Whitsundays.

Mackay Northern Beaches State High School receives $722,000 to upgrade skills development and training facilities.

Mackay Northern Beaches State High School receives $4.38m this year and then $1.46m post 2023 for additional classrooms.

Moranbah East State School receives $5.29m for additional classrooms.

Moranbah State High School receives $3.4m for additional classrooms.

Proserpine State High School receives $606,000 for additional specialist classrooms.

Queensland government regional action plan papers for Mackay Isaac Whitsunday in the 2022-23 state budget.

Dysart State High School receives $555,000 to upgrade skills development and training facilities.

Clermont State High School receives $773,000 to upgrade skills development and training facilities.

Bowen State High School receives $642,000 to upgrade skills development and training facilities.

Capella State School receives $1.1 million in 2022-23 out of a $1.8 million total spend to upgrade the administration building.

Motorists

Mackay-Whitsundays receives a total $220.8m in road funding in 2022-23, including:

Peak Downs Highway (Clermont-Nebo), Wuthung Road to Caval Ridge Mine, widen and strengthen pavement – $5.89m

The Peak Downs Highway receives funding in the 2022-23 budget. Picture: Tara Miko

Mackay Port Access, Bruce Highway to Mackay – Slade Point Road, construct new two lane road – $9.5m (part of a $350m spend)

Mackay Northern Access Upgrade – construct additional lanes – $6.09m

Bruce Highway Funding (Mackay-Proserpine and Bowen-Ayr) – $32.4m

Blue Mountain Road, Scrubby Creek and Hut Creek – replace timber bridges – $2.5m

For the $186.6m Walkerston Bypass project, the already-allocated $56.5m will be this in 2022-23 to help construct a new two-lane highway connecting Peak Downs Highway to the Mackay Ring Road.

Queensland government regional action plan papers for Mackay Isaac Whitsunday in the 2022-23 state budget.

The police and victims of Domestic and Family Violence

The Mackay courthouse will be upgraded as part of a broader $49.1m spend over four years on capital upgrades across the state.

The budget states there will be “new DFV courtrooms and safe rooms, reconfigured registry counters, public waiting areas and interview rooms, improved stakeholder facilities, public amenities and security infrastructure, to maximise victim safety”.

The Mackay Police will receive $1.05m to upgrade its facility.

Social housing

$23.7m has been allocated to social housing in Mackay and the Whitsundays.

The Port of Mackay

$7.6 million has been allocated for maintenance of the Mackay Port, replacement of the Middle Breakwater fuel line supports and studies for hydrogen trade for ports overseen by North Queensland Bulk Ports.

(From left to right) Health Minister Yvette D'Ath, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, STL CEO David Quinn and STL director Tony Bartolo visit Shed 4 at the Port of Mackay on May 31. Picture: Duncan Evans

Future Planning for the Resources Sector

The budget allocates $68.5m over five years to execute the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan, designed to guide growth in the sector for the long-term.

The Resources Centre of Excellence receives $5.7 million over three years to fund a new future industries development hub at the Mackay Resources Centre of Excellence, expanding the centre’s reach into the new economy minerals sector.

Great Barrier Reef

The budget includes a range of measures geared towards the Great Barrier Reef.

$1 million to enhance public boat moorings and improve visitor access to the Great Barrier Reef islands.

$1 million to acquire land to enhance environmental protection of the Great Barrier Reef islands.

$3.5m over three years to continue the Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program

Queensland government regional action plan papers for Mackay Isaac Whitsunday in the 2022-23 state budget.

Other 

$650,000 out of a $22.7 million total spend to complete a detailed business case, approvals, environmental impact statements and cultural heritage and Native Title review of the Urannah Water Scheme.

$640,000 from a total $1m spend to support the development of a business case for the Future Foods Biohub in Mackay.

Losers

Resource companies

The budget introduces new royalty rates for resources firms, designed to extract more revenue as coal prices escalate.

The additional rates kick in at $175 per tonne.

A coal train not far from the Anglo Coal German Creek mine, near the mining town of Middlemount. Treasurer Cameron Dick has introduced new royalty rates on resources firms.

Mackay-Bucasia Rd

Despite community frustration with this clogged commuter route, the budget has not allocated new funding to Mackay-Bucasia Rd.

Pioneer Valley

The budget does not allocate funding for the proposed Pioneer Valley mountain bike trails.

Mackay waterfront

Mackay’s waterfront redevelopment aspirations have also lost out, with no new funding allocations presented this year.

Originally published as QLD budget 2022-23: Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday winners and losers