Toowoomba MPs slam 'recycled' State Budget

THE State Government has firmed up its $321m funding share of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and a number of other initiatives in its first budget.

THE State Government has firmed up its $321 million funding share of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and a number of other initiatives across the region in its first budget.

Roads are the big winners with $107.8 million for Warrego Hwy works and $11.4m spent widening the Dalby-Kogan Rd.

Health services will get a combined $46.2m including a $9.6m MRI service at the Toowoomba Hospital.

Kogan Creek Power Station will receive $48m and farmers will have access to $210,000 to help drought-proof properties.

Cobb+Co Museum will receive $150,000 for education programs and schools will share in nearly $59m for maintenance over four years.

The State Government has committed $104.4m in capital grants for councils.

Mayor Paul Antonio welcomed the broad range of funding measures across the region.

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"I think the re-confirmation of the Range Bypass is good news and the $1.62b for health and education and transport improvements is good news," Cr Antonio said.

"There seems to be some pretty positive things in there and no doubt it will be a matter of reading the fine print."

He said council would continue pushing for better public transport.

But Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts lambasted the State Government for not funding the Toowoomba State High School's Wilsonton campus's arts hall.

He said his electorate had been left wanting in Highfields, Wilsonton and the Toowoomba CBD area.

"We will continue to see the Wilsonton students sitting outside in four-degree temperatures on school assemblies," he said.

"I would have liked to have seen something for the Railway Parklands project and a bit more movement on public transport."

Toowoomba South MP John McVeigh said school pick-up and drop-off zones had not been funded in his electorate and criticised the government for taking credit for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing as its own win.

"That is just patently ridiculous to think that after five months they have pulled that off," he said.

"My concern is that this is a continuation of business as usual that the LNP put in place."

Former Toowoomba North MP Kerry Shine congratulated the Palaszczuk Government for its big dollar spends in the region despite the Labor government not holding a representative seat.

Originally published as Toowoomba MPs slam 'recycled' State Budget