Miles poised to reveal the infrastructure ace up his sleeve

Steven Miles has announced a $50m investment to rebuild the Rockhampton Hospital’s emergency department with its master plan expected to be completed in coming months.

Premier Steven Miles is expected to make a big infrastructure announcement in Rockhampton today. Picture: Adam Head

The government has pledged $50m towards rebuilding the Rockhampton Hospital emergency department, as Premier Steven Miles visits the Labor stronghold for the second time during the election campaign.

The final design for the ED revamp, including the number of beds, treatment areas and staffing requirements are yet to be finalised.

Funding would be in addition to existing plans to expand the hospital’s mental health unit, adding 9 additional beds, therapy and administration spaces for $92m.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the Rockhampton Hospital master plan was expected to be completed early next year.

“This $50m will significantly boost treatment spaces, significantly expand the short stay unit and a fracture clinic, so they will be the priorities,” she said.

“Once that master planning is complete, I’m sure there will be more work to do, but we don’t want to waste any time expanding this emergency department because it needs it.

“As soon as that master planning is underway, we’ll start recruitment.”

The $50m will act as initial funding during planning stages, with works expected to take just two years.

Premier Steven Miles denied he was sandbagging Labor-safe seats, despite visiting Rockhampton on day three of the campaign.

“I’ve always visited Rockhampton regularly,” he said.

“If you look at my travel program, I’ve been in safe Labor seats, marginal labor seats, marginal LNP seats.”

It comes after the state’s leaders were asked on Monday by Sam from Hendra; “What new projects will deliver economic prosperity in regional Queensland?”

Mr Miles answered that his government would continue focusing on long-term industrial and energy investments, that aim to secure regional jobs.

“The investments into the super grid are all in regional Queensland,” he said.

“They’re all designed to reinforce the network between our big coastal cities, as well as connect them to the solar and wind resources in central Queensland.

“That will allow us to deliver 24/7 renewable energy to heavy industry in all of those locations, securing jobs for the future.”

Copperstring 2.0 is Queensland’s most significant power network infrastructure project to date, resulting in a 1100km high-voltage electricity transmission line being erected from Townsville to Mount Isa.

Mr Miles said on top of energy investment, regional Queensland has also received significant health and road funding under his government.

“We have $6bn worth of road infrastructure projects on the Bruce Highway alone, including the Rocky Ring road, which is a more than a half billion dollar project in and of itself,” he said.

An LNP government would, in contrast, direct a $2bn infrastructure fund to growing housing supply in regional areas, which Mr Crisafulli says will open new doors for homeownership.

“The reason why there is so much pressure at the moment on the housing sector is because there’s been a lack of supply, and by delivering this infrastructure in partnership with councils, we’ll be able to drive a whole lot more and that will give the opportunity for young people to own their own home, which I’m passionate about,” he said.

“It will also enable more supply, which will put downward pressure on people who are renting.”

Both Labor and the LNP last week refused to reveal when desperate Queenslanders will find a home, after it was revealed the state’s social housing waitlist had climbed by 514 in just three months to 45,473 total people.

Originally published as Miles poised to reveal the infrastructure ace up his sleeve