Queensland Budget 2021: What’s in store for the Darling Downs

The Darling Downs will receive a healthy cash injection in this year’s state budget. See who the big winners are across the region.

Health, infrastructure and education are among the big winner’s in this year’s Queensland Government budget, with more than $1 billion set to be invested across the Darling Downs in 2021-22.

Released on Tuesday, Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick announced a budget deficit of $3.485 billion is expected for 2021-22 with a return to surplus ($153 million) in 2024-25.

An estimated $3.8 billion deficit this financial year is lower than the $8.63 billion projected in December.

Among the big ticket items included in the $1.1 billion slated for the Darling Downs and South West Hospital and Health Services include $5.9 million out of a $42 million total spend for the construction of a two-theatre day surgery unit at the Baillie Henderson Hospital Campus as part of a $2 billion Hospital Building Fund to address growth pressures across the health system.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick speaks during a press conference at Parliament House. Mr Dick today delivered his second state budget. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“We are ensuring that healthcare infrastructure and equipment are delivered to the right place, at the right time, for the benefit of Queenslanders,” Mr Dick said.

Other budget healthcare items include $4.9 million for construction projects to improve facilities at the Toowoomba Hospital site, including electrical infrastructure upgrades of essential power integration and $466,000 out of a $116.6 million total spend to redevelop Roma Hospital.

When it comes to infrastructure spending, the Queensland Government budget sets out a total of $763 million for productivity-enhancing infrastructure and capital works, which is estimated to support around 2500 jobs across the Darling Downs.

“Infrastructure grows the economy, infrastructure connects communities and infrastructure creates valuable construction and maintenance jobs,” Mr Dick said.

The infrastructure spending includes a $19.34 million investment in a drought resilience package to provide long-term water security for the local communities and includes immediate funding to construct new groundwater bores, upgrade critical infrastructure and unlock new water sources to extend the existing supply.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick today delivered his second state budget. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The funding also includes $8.1 million for Seqwater to lay the groundwork for the Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline.

Education is another key area of the 2021-22 budget with $67.7 million allocated to maintain, improve and upgrade schools on the Darling Downs.

Among the big winners were Wilsonton State High School which will receive $15 million to construct a new building for additional learning spaces and Toowoomba West Special School, which will receive $6.7 million in 2021-22 out of a total of $7.1 million to construct a new building for additional learning spaces and upgrade the administration building.

Highfields State School also scored $3 million in 2021-22 to upgrade its administration building.

BUDGET 2021: By the numbers

• $763M for productivity-enhancing infrastructure and capital works, estimated to support about 2500 jobs.

• $1.1B for the Darling Downs and South West Hospital and Health Services.

• $67.7M to maintain, improve and upgrade schools on the Darling Downs.

• $20.8M in 2021-22 to expand and improve social housing on the Darling Downs.

• Budget deficit of $3.485 billion is expected for 2021-22 and the Treasurer is projecting a return to surplus ($153 million) in 2024-25.