- Funding for new Townsville school buildings in 2023-24 State Budget
- Budget invests $1.3 billion for health and $1.2 billion for infrastructure in Townsville
- Cost-of-living relief measures for all Queensland households
William Ross State High School will receive $13.4 million for a new multipurpose hall as part of the $259 million for halls, performing arts centres and enhanced covered areas package announced in the 2023-24 State Budget.
The Palaszczuk Government is continuing to invest in education and will provide $57.2 million to maintain, improve and upgrade schools in the region to ensure all students have access to a world-class education.
Other education projects include $13.3 million Townsville State High School performing arts centre, $13.1 million for the already announced Pimlico State High School, $629,000 out of $5.8 million for a new hall at Thuringowa State High School and $1.4 million out of $3.4 million for a new administration building at Kirwan State School.
While the focus of the budget is on providing cost of living relief, it also makes significant investments in housing, health and community safety.
The Palaszczuk Government is providing $1.3 billion for the Townsville Hospital and Health Service to deliver even better access to healthcare across the region.
The Budget also increases infrastructure spending for the region to $1.2 billion, including $58.2 million for Townsville University Hospital to construct a new clinical services building and expanded Outpatients Department to deliver better healthcare outcomes for the community and $18 million for the stage 1 expansion of the Kirwan Health Campus.
An additional $7 million is provided for Charters Towers Hospital, including establishing a renal dialysis treatment service. This will deliver contemporary healthcare for this community and allow more patients to be treated closer to home.
Other infrastructure spending includes $60.7 million to continue the channel capacity upgrade to widen shipping lanes and allow larger vessels to visit the Port of Townsville. To date this project has supported more than 1100 local jobs.
An additional $79.2 million is provided to connect the 250 megawatt Kidston Clean Energy Hub to the national electricity grid and more than $12 million for road upgrades, including Stage 5 of the Townsville Ring Road and Townsville Connection Road.
An additional $70.3 million from this Budget will be invested to expand and improve social housing in Townsville, as well as an additional $17.7 million to provide services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The Budget recognises the importance of tourism to good local jobs and the government continues to support the industry, with $1.7 million for the Museum of Tropical Queensland to deliver new exhibitions and programs and $608,000 for the Magnetic Island Trails Network.
The government is providing $1.48 billion in this Budget to support households and small businesses facing cost of living pressures, including a $550 electricity bill cost of living rebate for all households, up to $1072 in total rebates for vulnerable households and $650 for eligible small businesses.
Quotes attributable to the Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick:
"The Palaszczuk Government is delivering a new multipurpose hall at William Ross State High School through this Budget, continuing the Government's commitment to improve outcomes for students and teachers in the region.
"It's evidence of how this budget is delivering for all Queenslanders from the Cape to Coolangatta.
"Queensland's economic strength has allowed the Palaszczuk Government to provide $8.2 billion in cost-of-living relief, progress our $89 billion Big Build and the largest investment in health in the State's history.
"With $1.3 billion for Townsville healthcare, we'll hire more doctors, nurses and ambos for the region, adding to the 335 extra nurses, 210 extra doctors and 65 extra ambos our government has delivered since 2015.
"From Garbutt to Greenvale, this is about ensuring that Queenslanders can get access to the medical care, education, services and lifestyle they deserve."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Grace Grace:
"The Palaszczuk Government will always invest in education: it's in our DNA.
"We've invested $327 million for education infrastructure across the Townsville LGA since 2015, and in this budget there's a new hall for William Ross SHS, an extension of the hall at Kirwan SHS, and a performing arts centre at Townsville SHS.
"Projects we've already committed to are coming along well too, including the $18.4 million performing arts centre at Pimlico SHS.
"And of course, families right across the region will save thousands of dollars a year thanks to our historic announcement to make kindy free for every single child in Queensland."."
Quotes attributable to Member for Mundingburra Les Walker:
"I'm proud to have worked closely with William Ross State High School to secure this funding which I know will make a big difference to the school.
"I know the students and teachers at William Ross State High School, as well as at the other schools that are getting upgrades, will be over the moon with these upgrades."
Quotes attributable to Member for Townsville Scott Stewart:
"As a former principal at Townsville State High School I know how excited the entire community will be with a new Performing Arts Centre, particularly in the lead-up to its 100th anniversary next year.
"As a government we know how important it is to have the best facilities in place for students is because it helps keep them engaged in education.
"We're not only upgrading our schools through this year's budget but we're also expanding our School Breakfast Program which supports Queensland school children having access to a healthy and nutritious breakfast – leading to better concentration and learning outcomes."
Quotes attributable to Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper:
"I have worked hard with my local community to upgrade and get funding for new facilities in schools throughout Thuringowa.
"This includes at Kirwan State High School and Thuringowa State High Schools in this budget, along with previous upgrades at Heatley Secondary College and Kirwan State School."
Quote attributable to William Ross State High School Principal Allan Evans:
"Having a brand-new hall will be a fantastic asset for William Ross State High School and a dedicated, covered area, fully protected from the elements will enable multiple curricular and extra-curricular activities to take place, enhancing student learning.
"This will be a massive support including for performing arts, school assemblies and for engaging with our whole school community."
Townsville budget investments in 2023-24 include:
- $13.1 million to construct new specialist classrooms and a new performing arts centre at Pimlico State High School
- $13.3 million for a new performing arts centre at Townsville State High School
- $1.4 million for administration building upgrades at Kirwan State School
- $629,000 for a new hall at Thuringowa State High School
- $5.3 million to deliver a new multipurpose hall, staff work rooms, storerooms and kiosk for Ayr State High School
- $36.9 million for disaster recovery and reconstruction to deliver recovery and betterment projects to local government assets affected by disasters
- $19.5 million to continue planning and commence pre-construction activities for the Burdekin Falls Dam improvement and raising project.
- $575,000 to construct Dutton St Bridge at Ingham
- $18 million for the Stage 1 expansion of the Kirwan Health Campus
- $270,800 for The Oasis Townsville to provide support services to veterans and their families.
- $200,000 to support jobs creation and economic development as part of the Townsville Regional Industrial Estate
- $100,000 toward constructing a safe, modern playroom for children at Ronald McDonald House, Townsville
- $20 million to commence design works and other preliminary activities for the Townsville Correctional Precinct Expansion
- $564,650 to protect environmental and Indigenous culture heritage values in Palm Island as part of the Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program
- $7.2 million to support motor sport at Calcium, Townsville as part of the 'Drive it NQ' program.
- $300,000 to complete the Millaroo Dalbeg rural fire brigade station.
- $2 million to replace the 51-year-old Charters Towers Kennedy Regiment Memorial Pool and associated facilities.
- $1.6 million for Townsville Street University to provide a safe space for young people to engage in vocational education and training workshops, drug and alcohol treatment services and mentoring pathways
- $100,000 to establish the AEIOU Townsville Centre to provide support services for children with autism
- $10.8 million to deliver the new ambulance station and local ambulance service network office in Burdell
- $2.9 million to deliver compliance upgrades for the Central Sterilising Services at Ayr Hospital.
- $15 million to continue the replacement of the police facility at Kirwan.
To access the full range of concessions, rebates and supports available, Queenslanders can visit www.queenslandsavers.qld.gov.au
