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Media Releases My electorate office distributes information which is important to the Southport electorate in particular, and the Gold Coast in general. This information goes to the print and electronic media, however due to space or time constraints it doesn’t always get printed or broadcast. Through my website however, you can access all news stories which emanate from my office and thus keep up-to-date with State Government issues relating to Southport.
Southport Benefits from Beattie Budget |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jun 15 2004 |
| Media Releases >> |
SOUTHPORT had secured a sizeable portion of funds from today's State Budget across many departments and agencies, the Member for Southport, Mr Peter Lawlor, said today.
Mr Lawlor said he was proud to be a member of the third-term Beattie Government for getting straight down to the business of delivering for the whole of Queensland.
"We wasted no time at all after the election this year in making good on our election commitments to Queenslanders, including the people of my electorate," Mr Lawlor said.
"Treasurer Terry Mackenroth has prepared a Budget that shows Queensland's strong economy and equally strong balance sheet.
"As a result, this Government will deliver on all of its commitments and go further with additional significant initiatives.
"Also, for the first time Queensland will see a capital works program that exceeds $6 Billion.
"It is the highest amount of capital works ever committed by a government in the history of Queensland."
The 2004-05 State Budget funds for the Southport electorate and surrounding areas include:
• $148,000 for the purchase of LiveScan fingerprinting technology at the Southport Watchhouse at a total project cost of $236,000. This technology allows immediate processing and cross checking of a national database to assist in identifying offenders.
• $1.9 million, for the initial outlay for the continued planning and commencement of construction of a new Southport Police Station on the existing site, at a total project cost of $3.9 million.
• $135,000 for the Logan/Gold Coast Tactical Crime Squad that was expanded in April 2003 to two separate squads each with a complement of 14 officers. Tactical Crime Squads target known crime hotspots with a strong emphasis on investigating property crime and drug offences.
• $124,000 for a tuckshop upgrade at Southport State High School and reflooring at Keebra Park and Southport State High Schools and Arundel and Southport State Schools under the High Priority Maintenance Program.
• $79,000 shared with Currumbin, Burleigh, Robina, Surfers Paradise and Broadwater towards stage one of the Darren Smith Memorial Coastal Cycle Route from Paradise Point to Coolangatta, with a total State Government contribution of $135,000.
• $500,000 for improvements to the intersection of Southport - Nerang Road and Minnie Street with a total project cost of $3.72 Million.
• $900,000 towards the duplication of the Gold Coast Highway between Helensvale and Southport from Robert Street to Stevens Street, including Loders Creek Bridge widening, with a total project cost of $15 Million.
• $100,000 to construct an auxiliary lane on the Southport - Nerang Road between Southport and Burleigh Road with a total project cost of $601,000.
• $100,000 to resurface Labrador - Carrara Road between Central Street and Musgrave Avenue with a total project cost of $1.85 Million.
• $100,000 shared with Broadwater for concept planning on the Gold Coast Highway at Frank Street with a total project cost of $400,000.
• $4.18 Million towards the cost of Arundel Industrial Park development into 33 lots for low impact industry.
• $83,000 to strengthen the regional development focus of State Development and Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast, in order to increase business development activities in the regional centre, with a total project cost of $332,000.
• $284,000 for the electorates of Albert, Broadwater, Burleigh, Currumbin, Mudgeeraba, Robina, Gaven, Southport and Surfers Paradise for an additional site on the South Coast for the Youth Justice Conferencing program.
• 109 grants totalling approximately $3.63 Million to support people with disabilities and their families in the Southport electorate. This includes $1.88 Million to assist adults with disabilities to maintain their living arrangements and participate in their community; $658,000 in general funding to organisations to support individuals with a disability; and $567,000 to support school leavers with a disability making the transition to adult life.
• $2.05 million will be invested by Powerlink for reinforcement to enhance the transmission system supplying the Gold Coast area, with a total project cost of $57.9 Million.
• $4.659 Million for the refurbishment of public housing in the Gold Coast region
• $500,000 for the construction of future singles accommodation with a total project cost of $4.2 Million.
• $906,000 to the Gold Coast Community Housing Association for the Community Rent Scheme
• $28,000 in total to Churches of Christ Care Pathways SEQ and Combined Women's Crisis Services Gold Coast for the Crisis Accommodation program.
• $505,000 to Gold Coast North Home Assist Secure.
• $3.044 Million for the construction of 15 medium density units of public housing with a total project cost of $3.49 Million.
• $600,000 for the renewal of approximately 28 existing public rental houses at Molendinar.
• $2.67 Million to community organisations in the Southport electorate under the Home and Community Care program. This program provides support and maintenance services for people in their home, and their carers, so they can remain living in their community and avoid premature admission to residential care.
• $49,000 for repainting at Southport State High School and Southport State School under the Triple R Maintenance Program
• An extra $5.02 Million for the Gold Coast Health Service District to enhance services as well as $1.94 Million to purchase essential medical equipment including a CT scanner and four operating tables. Other budget initiative for the Gold Coast Health Service District include:
$300,000 for the refurbishment of existing birthing facilities at the Gold Coast Hospital.
$2.5 Million for a new cardiac diagnostic laboratory at the Gold Coast Hospital.
$6.3 Million over three years to open eight additional chairs for the Gold Coast renal service.
• $201,000 in regional tourist organisation funding for the Gold Coast Tourism Bureau for various activities including destination-based marketing.
• $11 Million will be allocated by way of a grant to the Gold Coast Events Company Pty Ltd to facilitate the staging of the annual Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast - an event which is estimated to generate in excess of $50 Million annually for the Queensland economy.
• $375,000 for coordination of the Gold Coast Schoolies Week Festival to implement the State Government's three point plan for a safer and more enjoyable festival including events management, activities, support services, volunteer coordination, safety measures and communication
• $615,000 for 15 new life saving ambulance paramedics in the South Coast region.
• Approximately $6 Million to create an estimated 1,113 jobs through the Government's Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative in the Gold Coast region including:
$3.25 Million through a range of apprenticeships and traineeship incentive programs which provide jobs in crucial, skills-shortage industries and the public sector.
$2.78 Million for assistance to long-term unemployed people and people at risk of long-term unemployment through a range of community employment programs.
• Approximately $89.2 Million will be invested in more than 6 million hours of training in the Gold Coast region. This will underpin the social and economic development of the region by creating approximately 35,000 training places. Activities include $6.31 Million for manufacturing industry related training in support of the Manufacturing Industry Initiative.
Mr Lawlor said the local electorate would also benefit in other Budget initiatives across the State.
"For instance, our solid finances mean the Beattie Government will abolish credit card duty, reduce the rate of insurance duty and raise the concession threshold for home-buyers purchasing their principal-place-of-residence," he said.
Mr Lawlor said the Budget also demonstrated the Beattie Government's unwavering focus on core service delivery with record recurrent spending in Departments such as Health ($5.1 Billion), Education ($4.8 Billion), Transport and Main Roads ($4 Billion), Police ($1.1 Billion), Disability Services ($454 Million) and the new Department of Child Safety ($269 Million).
"Today's Budget has been framed around making a real difference to people's everyday lives as well as delivering on the Beattie Government's commitment to building every region of this great State," he said.
Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 12:00 AM
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