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Home , Outback, Western Queensland

Budget 2016-17 Regional Action Plan

'BACK TO OUTBACK QUEENSLAND WORK' Advancing our economy through job-creating $100M to support Innovation, Investment and Infrastructure up to 8,000 jobs Regional Action Plan across regional The vast Outback Queensland region covers around one million square kilometres of Queensland wide open spaces, treasured natural resources and vibrant communities in Queensland. The Outback Queensland region continues to contribute significantly to the Employer support payments of up to State’s economy through its strong agricultural and resources-based industries, as well $10,000 to hire and keep as developing opportunities in and other service-orientated industries. a regional Queenslander employed We know we have more work to do, in the face of widespread and the scaling for 12 months or more, including down of some mining operations, to create more employment opportunities and disadvantaged jobseekers such foster new and emerging industries. Specifically, this Budget includes our Back to Work as mature aged workers, young package, creating regional jobs and: people, members of drought affected farm households and other priority job seekers. Payments increase to $15,000 for hiring long-term unemployed regional Queenslanders.

Eligible employees will also have access to job readiness payments to help Rural Assistance Health Infrastructure them start their new job. This may include training, purchasing new and Drought * equipment and uniforms or gaining Package $2.2B $620.7M or renewing trade licenses. to provide residents of Outback for infrastructure improvements Queensland with quality which are estimated to support Back to Work Navigation $77.9M health care. 2,000 jobs. Teams who know the local to assist rural producers and *Includes the total funding for the North West, economy will help local communities across the State , Central West, South West, and Hinterland and Torres and Cape Hospital employers looking to fill jobs. They affected by debt and drought. and Health Services. will connect jobseekers to jobs or further skills training and apprentice pathways. $6.3M in 2016-17 for maintenance and capital works projects for schools. over three years for the Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy to make Queensland the place $ 2 2 . 7 M for small business to start, grow and employ. over four years to implement the Technology Commercialisation Fund to help develop the New 2,000 $4.8M Agricultural Economy. estimated to be supported by the infrastructure program www.budget.qld.gov.au What the statewide initiatives mean for OUTBACK QUEENSLAND

Rural Assistance and Agricultural Investment Domestic and Drought Package Innovation Family Violence $77.9M $4.8M $62.7M $198.2M to assist rural producers and to implement the Technology including the $40 million over five years to continue communities across the State Commercialisation Fund, a Advance Queensland implementing the affected by debt and drought. pilot program under the New Industry Attraction Fund to Government’s response The total funding provided Agricultural Economy, which attract business investment to the Not Now, Not Ever: includes: extending existing relief aims to attract private sector from interstate and support Putting an End to Domestic arrangements, pest and weed capital into government local businesses to reinvest, and Family Violence in management, grants of up to agriculture and food based and the $22.7 million Queensland report. The $2,500 for primary producers, research and development, Advancing Small Business Government is committed extending an existing stamp duty with the aim of increasing Queensland Strategy to assist to reducing the devastating exemption for inter-generational the commercialisation of small businesses to start, effects of domestic transfers of property, more intellectual property. grow and employ locals in and family violence in education support for children in Outback Queensland. These Queensland. drought affected areas, and a new initiatives further support Queensland Rural and Industry the $405 million Advance Development Authority. Queensland package.

The Western Roads Upgrade Project employs 7,244 people in Outback Queensland The Queensland Government has established a $40 million Western Roads Upgrade Program who support: (WRUP) to support economic development and job sustainability in western Queensland. Delivered over 3,630,950 hectares of national and regional parks 2015-16 and 2016-17, the WRUP will provide targeted 75 State Heritage sites road network upgrades in western Queensland, and focus on road widening and sealing to improve 37 hospitals and health facilities efficiency, safety, and reduce maintenance costs. 26 customer service centres The WRUP will assist in stabilising the economic 10,915 km of roads circumstances faced by western Queensland communities by providing a sustainable pipeline of 3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership investment to support workforces. regional offices 17 fire stations Works are currently or will soon be underway in local government areas across Central West, South West, 48 police stations North West and regions of the State. 16 courthouses 58 schools Economic Snapshot OUTBACK QUEENSLAND

Apprentice and trainee rebate for payroll Population in the region tax claimed by 24 businesses in the 2036 region to reinvest 2015 $51,000 back into their business in the financial year to April 2016

5,752 businesses in the region 56,231* 60,000 in June 2015 *people as at 30 June 2015, growing at an annual average rate of 0.4% over the past 10 years

Top 5 industries 51 421 in the region residential residential by number of workers dwellings approved dwellings for construction sold in the 16.5% in the region region Agriculture, forestry and fisheries 15.6% Mining in the 12 months ending 31 March 2016 in the 12 months ending 31 December 2015 9.6% Public administration and safety Infrastructure 9.0% budget for Health care and social assistance Outback 7.9% Retail trade Queensland 41% Energy and Water Supply Agricultural 33% Transport and Main Roads production 16% Housing and Public Works 5% Queensland Health $1.9B 2% Public Safety Business Agency in the region 3% Other * Agency spends are only available for capital purchases, during 2014-15 the total infrastructure budget includes capital grants. $620.7M* OUTBACK QUEENSLAND

Job-creating innovation, investment and infrastructure for OUTBACK QUEENSLAND The Outback region encompasses 22 local government areas and the major regional centres of , Charleville, Longreach and Barcaldine. The Queensland Government is investing in the Outback Queensland region through a diverse range of projects and initiatives. For a full list of Queensland Budget 2016-17 initiatives, visit www.budget.qld.gov.au

1  Alpha Hospital and Collocated 6  Charleville Auxiliary Fire and Key Emergency Services Project Rescue Station replacement $1.2 million in 2016-17 out of a $1.3 million in 2016-17 out of a $17.5 million total spend for the $2.5 million total spend to replace hospital and collocated emergency the station. Community wellbeing services pilot project. 7  Cloncurry Alan Ticehurst 2  Aramac Primary Health Care building refurbishment Centre redevelopment $909,000 in 2016-17 to refurbish Utilities $2.2 million in 2016-17 out of a the building. $2.7 million total spend for the replacement of the existing primary 8  Doomadgee water reticulation health care facility. system upgrade $1.8 million in 2016-17 out of a Health 3  Astrebla Downs National $3.8 million total spend in partnership Park Ranger accommodation with Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire replacement Council to complete the water $380,000 in 2016-17 out of a $400,000 reticulation system upgrade. Education total spend to replace the existing accommodation and kitchen and 9  Cramsie - Muttaburra Road, living area dongas with new units and Longreach, paving and sealing install a skillion shelter to protect from $1.2 million in 2016-17 out of a the weather which will significantly $1.9 million total spend to pave and Transport and roads increase the useful life of new dongas. seal a section of the road, due for completion in September 2016. 4  Boulia Community Hospital refurbishment 10  Cunnamulla Auxiliary Fire and Justice and safety $300,000 in 2016-17 out of a Rescue Station replacement $2 million total spend to improve $1.8 million in 2016-17 out of a service delivery and disabled access. $2 million total spend to replace the station. 5  Cape York regional package Government services $54.2 million in 2016-17 out of a 11  Arthur Peterson Diversionary $260.5 million total spend to upgrade Centre upgrade program priority transport infrastructure, due for completion in December 2018. $330,000 in 2016-17 to upgrade the This package is being undertaken centre in Mount Isa to meet growing Recreation and culture in partnership with the Australian service demands for safe food Government. preparation, enhanced client security and external shading of the outdoor dining area. Job-creating innovation, investment and infrastructure for

OUTBACK QUEENSLAND Far

12  Flinders Highway 14  Flinders Highway strengthening and strengthening and

Townsville widening – Hughenden to widening – Richmond to Richmond Julia Creek Mackay $6.6 million out of a $8.6 million in 2016-17 out of Outback $7.1 million total spend for a $10.7 million total spend on Queensland Fitzroy pavement widening on the pavement widening, due for Wide Bay highway, due for completion in completion in January 2017 – part April 2017 – part of the National of the National Highway Upgrade Darling Sunshine Coast Highway Upgrade Program Program delivered in partnership Downs Logan delivered in partnership with the with the Australian Government. Ipswich Australian Government. 15  Future Resources Program 13  Flinders Highway – Mount Isa Geophysics strengthening and Initiative widening – Julia Creek to $1.8 million in 2016-17 to Cloncurry implement regional geophysical $4 million in 2016-17 out of a data acquisition across North $6 million total spend on pavement West Queensland. widening on the highway, due for completion in April 2017 – part 16  Great Artesian Basin of the National Highway Upgrade 5 Sustainability Initiative Program delivered in partnership (Phase 4) with the Australian Government. 17 $7.1 million in 2016-17 out of a $12.1 million total spend to achieve a sustainable and ongoing 18 18 8 groundwater management system. 18 This includes improvement in 26 water pressure within aquifers that support high value springs through 11 15 18 24 the rehabilitation of old bores legally operating in an uncontrolled 13 21 state and the replacement of Mount Isa 7 14 20 27 12 legally operating bore drains 23 with pipelines. This project is undertaken in partnership with the 29 Australian Government. 4 2 17 Longreach  Gununa Jetty and Barge 3 22 1 Landing Redevelopment 9 18 Project – Stage 1 $1.2 million in 2016-17 out of a 16 $3.6 million total spend to redevelop the Gununa Jetty 19 and barge landing including Charleville 6 replacement of the existing jetty in partnership with Mornington Shire Council and the private sector.

10 Queensland Budget 2016-17 Regional Action Plan

18  Indigenous Land and 24  Mount Isa permanent Fire and 30  Western Queensland tourist Ranger Program Rescue Station upgrade and culturally significant $3.6 million in 2016-17 for Indigenous $1 million in 2016-17 to upgrade sites access rangers to protect environmental and the station. $3 million in 2016-17 out of a Indigenous cultural heritage values $10 million total spend to upgrade in Longreach, Mount Isa, Normanton, 25  Natural disaster relief and road access to tourist and culturally and Georgetown as part of recovery arrangements significant sites in western the $9.6 million program. Queensland, due for completion $121.5 million in 2016-17 for mid-2018. local government recovery and 19   isolated system reconstruction projects in partnership 31 renewables with the Australian Government.  Wild dog control $4.5 million in 2016-17 out of a $1.3 million in 2016-17 as part of a $12.9 million total spend to provide 26  Queensland Regional Natural $5 million program over three geothermal generation for Birdsville. Resource Management years, with contributions from local governments, to improve the Investment Program 20 Julia Creek Community and management of wild dogs in western   $600,000 in 2016-17 to improve Cultural Precinct Upgrade Queensland where fencing is not water quality in the Thompson River economical. Project and Basin, and an innovative $2.2 million in 2016-17 in partnership approach to prickly acacia control in 32 Western Roads Upgrade with private industry and McKinlay the Mitchell Grass Downs through the  Shire Council to upgrade the precinct. use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Program $32.4 million in 2016-17 out of a 21 Hann Highway – Sealing 27 Richmond Auxiliary Fire and $40 million total spend to provide   targeted road network upgrades Hughenden to The Lynd Rescue Station upgrade focusing on road widening and $4 million in 2016-17 out of a $1 million in 2016-17 to upgrade sealing, within western Queensland $19.9 million total spend to progress the station. local government areas, due for the bitumen sealing of the Hann completion in June 2017. Highway (Kennedy Development 28  School maintenance and Road), as part of the Northern capital works program 33 Country Racing Support initiative.  $6.3 million in 2016-17 to fund Program maintenance and capital works for 22 Landsborough Highway $6 million in 2016-17 out of a  schools in the Outback Queensland $21 million total spend to offset the pavement improvements – region. amended prize money structure Blackall to Barcaldine for country racing, enhancing the $5 million in 2016-17 out of a 29  Waltzing Matilda Centre sustainability of country racing $12.5 million total spend to reconstruction across Queensland. rehabilitate and widen various $840,000 in 2016-17 out of a sections of the highway, due for $17.6 million total spend to assist 34  Transport Infrastructure completion in March 2018 – part of the Winton Shire Council reconstruct Development Scheme National Highway Upgrade Program the centre which is central to the delivered in partnership with the Outback Queensland will benefit from identity of the Winton community and Australian Government. additional funding of $30 million is a cornerstone of the local tourist per year from 2017-18 to 2019-20 for industry. This initiative is jointly works on local government transport 23  McKinlay Multi-purpose funded in partnership with the Local infrastructure. This funding takes the Health Service refurbishment and the Australian Government. total allocation for this initiative to and expansion $70 million per year. $60,000 in 2017-18 out of a $5 million total spend to refurbish critical infrastructure and extend aged care environments.