Queensland State budget 2021: Everything Gold Coast needs to know
The Opposition says Treasurer Cameron Dick’s “recovery” budget is nothing more than a “Gold Coast bypass”, with the city to receive only a fraction of the state’s overall infrastructure spend.
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THE Opposition says Treasurer Cameron Dick’s “recovery” budget is nothing more than a “Gold Coast bypass”, with the city to receive only a fraction of the state’s overall infrastructure spend.
Labor on Tuesday trumpeted a $1.3bn infrastructure plan for the Coast, estimated to support a record 3900 jobs. It was up from $1.13bn the previous year.
Key job creation projects that take off in the next 12 months include about $1.044bn for light rail Stage 3 from Broadbeach to Burleigh — confirming $113m will be spent in the next 12 months — and $115m to begin construction of the second M1 between Nerang and Coomera.
However, Southport MP Rob Molhoek says the city is being short-changed as the total statewide capital works program was worth $12.6bn.
The Coast had 14 per cent of Queensland’s population, but was receiving funding to cover about 8.9 per cent, he said.
“It’s a classic Gold Coast bypass budget,” Mr Molhoek said.
“They are telling us we are getting a lot of things but we are still not getting our fair share. It’s more concerning given the growth of the population of the city since more southerners are coming here.”
The budget papers highlighted how the state had received 30,000 net interstate migrants in 2020, more than any other state or territory.
The papers say the labour market had improved substantially with employment in April having rebounded by 253,200 workers since May 2020, to be 54,900 persons above the pre-pandemic level in March 2020.
But there are ongoing concerns about the challenge of creating jobs for new arrivals.
As deputy chair of the state’s parliamentary health and environment committee, Mr Molhoek is acutely aware of budget stresses on the Coast’s hospital system.
He said Mr Dick had announced an increase in health spending of 13 per cent across two years when it was typical to see an eight per cent hike per annum.
“He’s sugar coating it. Obviously, they’ve pulled back in spending. There is unbelievable pressure on the emergency departments.
“If you are looking at the planned increases in hospital beds across the state, it’s actually minuscule. They are actually only planning an extra 30 to 40 beds in the next couple of years for the Coast.”
Mr Molhoek described the two satellite hospitals in the city’s north and south as “GP super clinics” which would not be enough to reduce the load on emergency departments.
The southern Gold Coast satellite hospital was first announced in the lead-up to the 2020 election, but the location remained a mystery.
Tugun is the preferred location, with Currumbin MP Laura Gerber repeatedly demanding the state government announce an official site.
“All the other sites are picked and commencing except for Tugun,” she said.
“If I was being cynical I’d say it’s because it was an election commitment to try and win Currumbin, and they didn’t win, so now they’re going to try and (get out of it).
“But I don’t want to be cynical, which is why I’m trying to keep the community active and involved in the fight for it. This is important for the community.”
She added more than 150 community members had written to the state government asking for a site to be confirmed.
SATELLITE HOSPITAL MYSTERY
THE state government will spend $100 million next financial year on seven new satellite hospitals, one of which will go on the southern Gold Coast.
But there’s just one problem – we still did not know where it will be built.
The 2021-22 State Budget papers show $105 million of a total $265 million spend to build seven satellite hospitals will occur in the next 12 months.
The funding is part of a $1.8 billion health spend for Gold Coast Health, up from $1.6 billion in the previous year’s budget.
Treasurer Cameron Dick labelled it a “record spend”, but hinted others areas including Ipswich would be first on the health infrastructure pipeline.
“An effective health system needs high-quality infrastructure,” he said. “We are ensuring that healthcare infrastructure and equipment are delivered to the right place, at the right time, for the benefit of Queenslanders.”
State Budget documents make no mention of where the hospital will go, adding to the controversy about the project first announced before the 2020 election.
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Currumbin MP Laura Gerber has previously demanded the government deliver on the hospital.
“I am sick to death of Labor playing fast and loose with the truth,” she said in late May.
“I want to see this government make good on their promise and deliver a satellite hospital in Tugun.”
Last month, the government was left embarrassed after official maps mistakenly labelled a Burleigh Heads church as the location.
Department sources confirmed the Mary Mother of Mercy Church was “absolutely not” the site but could not say why a marker for the hospital was placed on top of it.
A total $1.8 billion has been committed for Gold Coast hospital and health services, with an additional 105 nurses and 57 doctors since last budget.
There were also 98 extra ambulance officers since March 2015, the government said.
MASSIVE SPEND ON COAST PROJECTS REVEALED IN STATE BUDGET
THE Gold Coast’s economy is “roaring back to life” with hundreds of millions to be spent on the light rail, new train stations, the Coomera Connector and Pacific Motorway exit upgrades, State Budget papers reveal.
Treasurer Cameron Dick on Tuesday announced the recovery from Covid-19 was better than expected in predictions 12 months ago with net debt in 2020-21 reduced by $9.7 billion — the biggest drop ever by the State Government — and the State budget expected to return to surplus by 2024-25.
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The economic recovery, which the Treasurer maintains is on the back of strong health measures to contain the virus, was being steered by a $52.2 billion infrastructure spend, much of it on roads and rail and the largest in a decade.
“When you protect the health of your people, the jobs will grow. That is what we are seeing in Queensland today — an economy roaring back to life,” Mr Dick said, in his budget speech to State Parliament.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described the funding spend as a “traditional Labor budget” focusing on what Queenslanders need — new schools, hospitals and roads.
“And Queensland is roaring back, you cannot hold a Queenslander down. The Queensland economy is coming back bigger, stronger and faster than any of us could have expected,” she said.
The key outcomes for the Coast are:
* A $1.3b infrastructure plan, up from $1.13b in the previous year, estimated to support a record 3900 jobs.
* About $1.044b for light rail stage three from Broadbeach to Burleigh, with $113 million to be spent in the next 12 months, enabling construction before Christmas and easing fears about a funding shortfall.
* $115 million to begin construction of the Coomera Connector’s first stage between Nerang and Coomera.
* $120m for three new railway stations at Pimpama, Helensvale North, Worongary-Merrimac with the project cost and timing subject to further planning as early studies begin.
* $58m out of a $82m total spend to upgrade interchange on Exit 41 on the Pacific Motorway.
* $48.7m for social housing, a significant boost, which recognises the city’s growing homeless population.
* $1.8b for health, providing 1330 extra nurses (up 48 per cent in the last six years) and 98 extra ambulance officers, an increase of more than 26 per cent across the same period. This is an increase from $1.7b with the city to get a satellite hospital for the southern Coast.
*$171m for education, up from $133m last year, which will see more than 700 new teachers in the city’s schools since March 2015, an increase of almost 16 per cent. Palm Beach Currumbin State School will get a new hall, and in the north Gainsborough State School will see a $16.6m second stage construction, and similarly more than $28m for Foxwell State Secondary College. About $24m is to be spent on a special school at Coomera and additional learning spaces created at Ormeau Woods.
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Both tourism and crime, along with police numbers on the Coast, did not get a mention in the Treasurer’s speech.
But tourism was highlighted in regional highlights in the budget papers with the government providing $4.3m out of the $5m spend for the dive site attraction off The Spit.
Other funding initiatives included a cliff climbing attraction at Binna Burra and high end glamping and cabins at the Hazelwood luxury country retreat.
The region’s film industry will benefit from an Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund with the city to get much of the planned $76.5 million in capital expenditure.
Almost $30m will be provided in small business Covid-19 adaptation grants to help operators “build resilience”.
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The budget strategy papers said: “While more travel bubbles are gradually established from 2022 onwards, the international border is assumed to remain closed to most travellers through to mid-2022.”
The papers noted the “national recovery is well underway and stronger than initially anticipated”.
The Queensland economy is forecast to grow by one-quarter per cent in 2020-21 and 3.5 per cent in 2021-22, bolstered by a surge in dwelling activity and investment, much of it on the Coast.
In his budget speech, Mr Dick said: “Our program of works on the Gold Coast is delivering major upgrades, including out signature $1.5 billion for the Coomera Connector, to provide a second M1.
“This year we will deliver $188.9 million for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3, as part of this $1 billion project,” he said.
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Capital statements show how the spend for the next 12 months on the Broadbeach to Burleigh tram route will be almost $114m, increasing to about $853m in 2022-23.
The second M1 spend, for works from Nerang to Coomera, will be $115m in 2021-22 increasing to $1.385b in 2022-23.
Mr Dick told the Bulletin the government’s infrastructure recovery program had seen the State bounce back faster than interstate rivals and other destinations across the world.
“Faster frankly than we could have hoped for a year ago,” he said.
“What this budget has at its heart is the fundamental lesson of COVID-19 — if you protect the health of your people, jobs come back.”
The Budget strategy papers said once the domestic economy recovers, government would continue to wind back the stimulus program.
While the recovery had gained momentum “the global economy remains exposed to potential new variants of COVID-19 and further waves of infection” along with “ongoing uncertainty around the timing and effectiveness of vaccine rollouts in some major economies”.
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THE state government is being urged to spend up big on transport and help small business to “future proof” the Gold Coast from population growing pains.
Tuesday’s budget is expected to include the final $200 million needed for light rail Stage 3 to Burleigh Heads.
But business and civic leaders say the Palaszczuk government must provide relief for sectors struggling as a result of Covid-19 while preparing the city to house more than 1 million people within 20 years.
Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said payroll tax reform and the fast-tracking of the Coomera Connector were both critical to the city’s success.
“To future proof the city business needs direct stimulation, as well as support for those who already operate along the future light rail corridor on the Gold Coast Highway,” he said.
“Funding for infrastructure is needed, particularly the fast-tracking of the Coomera Connector so we have the whole road completed as soon as possible.”
The government announced on Monday it would commit $71 million to the city’s film industry, but has otherwise been tight-lipped about its budget commitments.
Mayor Tom Tate said it was critical for the state government to give greater support for small business “through increased incentives under their grants program”.
“I know the Business Basics Grants program was oversubscribed so I urge the state to fund more grants across the small business sector.
“Our city is the small business engine room of Australia and they need to be at the forefront of all state budget decisions.”
Cr Tate also wants money for satellite hospitals and greater support for Southport’s health and knowledge precinct.
“I’d like to see capital investment in the satellite hospital rollout that the Premier outlined last October,” he said.
“That was a $265 million commitment with news that our city would secure a satellite hospital to take the pressure off our other facilities so let’s hope that becomes a reality in the very near future.”
The government vowed to build a hospital in the city’s south ahead of last year’s election, but details have been scarce.
Cr Tate said it was “obvious research and development opportunities have been missed” in regards to the health and knowledge precinct and it was “time we reinvest funds and partnership resources’’.
Leading real estate agent Amir Mian said he hoped for funding for road and rail projects but argued more land needed to be freed up to allow for development.
“What we need is a forward-thinking government which needs to put more funding towards infrastructure projects,” he said.
“We are getting the population growth no matter what, so what this means is a need for better infrastructure and more land.
“We need help from the government to make land available through improving the zoning.”
FUNDING TO MAKE GOLD COAST A JOBS ‘POWERHOUSE’
MORE than $71 million will be tipped into the Gold Coast’s film industry this year to lock in the Glitter Strip as the southern hemisphere’s “production powerhouse”.
The giant funding boost, the largest single financial injection into the industry in more than six years, will be a key plank of Tuesday’s state budget, with cash set aside to lure more big budget overseas productions into the city.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the industry was set to boom in the wake of COVID-19, with the Gold Coast and Queensland regarded as safe havens to film.
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“Queensland attracted more international productions than any other state in 2020 and this funding will help us to attract even more.
“From competitive incentives and first-rate studio facilities, to highly-skilled local crews and diverse locations – it’s no surprise that screen production demand is at an all -time high in Queensland.
“Through the global pandemic our State has been a safe haven for local and international productions while others were shut down, keeping cameras rolling on Covid-Safe sets.
“And now, we’re taking the next step, building on the overwhelming interest and momentum in our screen sector with this new funding.”
The Coast has become one of the major movie hubs in recent years, hosting filming of major blockbusters Thor: Ragnarok, Aquaman, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Godzilla vs. Kong and Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming Elvis biopic.
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The funding will include:
* An extra $53 million over two years for production attraction specifically targeted at big international projects.
• $4 million over two years for domestic film, television and games production.
• $10 million over two years for an incentives program for visual effects, increasing the tax break to 15 per cent, the most competitive rate on Australia’s eastern seaboard.
Productions filming in Queensland include Ron Howard’s Thirteen Lives and The Portable Door, a co-production between Brisbane-based Story Bridge Films and the Jim Henson Company.
Upcoming productions include Netflix’s Jessica Watson biopic, and the big budget romantic comedy Ticket To Paradise, starring Academy Award winners George Clooney and Julia Roberts.
Gold Coast-based MP Meaghan Scanlon said the city’s evolution into a premier destination for filmmakers had created a whole new industry.
“The Gold Coast is no longer playing a supporting role when it comes to making blockbuster films. This shot in the arm for the industry will catapult the local screen industry and the jobs it supports into the stratosphere.”
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Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said the extra funding would create jobs and lure more projects.
“It will stimulate crew jobs that flow from big productions like Thirteen Lives, Australian Survivor and Young Rock, increase the volume of Queensland-grown screen projects we can finance, and support development programs we can offer to emerging creative talent,” she said.
Originally published as Queensland State budget 2021: Everything Gold Coast needs to know
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