State Budget 2022-23 what it means for Moreton Bay Region

By Jodie Powell, Ashleigh Howarth and Kylie Knight

The State Government announced $834.7 million in infrastructure spending in the Moreton Bay Region as it handed down its 2022-23 Budget this afternoon.

The Budget's centrepiece is the largest health spend in Queensland’s history of $23.6 billion which will deliver new hospitals and expand existing hospitals across the state. It will fund 2200 additional overnight beds across 15 facilities during the next six years.

“Demands on our health system can never be addressed by cuts to frontline services,” Mr Dick says.

“Today, I am pleased to announce this year’s Budget will deliver a record commitment of $23.6 billion for frontline health services and high quality health care infrastructure. Today our government commits $9.8 billion for a funding program to expand the capacity of Queensland’s health system."

The unemployment rate is expected to fall to 4 per cent for 2022/23 before rising to 4.25 per cent in 2023/24.

A budget surplus of $1.915 billion is forecast this financial year, an improvement of $5.4 billion when compared to the $3.485 billion deficit forecast in the previous budget. But it is expected to become a deficit of $1.03 billion in 2022/23 and $1.08 billion in 2023/24, before returning to a surplus of $137 million in 2024/25.

Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic Games organising committee will receive $60 million over four years to planning.

The State Government will also make $30 million available for councils to help clean up their regions following the floods earlier this year. This is in addition to the $721 million in extraordinary circumstances package jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments.

The Budget allocates a record $19.6 billion spend in education and training, with five new schools to be built including one at Caboolture West.

Almost $40 million will be spent to help protect Queensland’s native animals at risk across South East Queensland, including $24.6 million to support the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020–2025.

The State Government has identified Caboolture West as a pilot site to accelerate land supply, to provide homes for about 70,000 people, unlocking more affordable housing in the Moreton Bay Region. 

It has committed $25.5 million of loan funding for water infrastructure to support up to 10,000 new homes across the first two stages of development. This includes $10.5 million from the Building Acceleration Fund and $15 million from the new $50 million Growth Acceleration Fund.

Addressing cost of living

“I know many families and individuals outside this building, all over Queensland, are working hard to cope with the rise in the cost-of-living pressures,” Mr Dick said.

“This is often a week-to-week proposition, compounded by a feeling of uncertainty. We understand the impact the rising costs of fuel and groceries are having on Queenslanders, especially on those with low incomes.

“That is why we continue to provide a wide range of concessions to help with transport, housing, healthcare, education, water and energy costs.

“This will amount to $6.8 billion dollars over the next financial year. That is a rise of 10 per cent on last year, benefitting millions of Queensland Households.”

Spending across the Moreton Bay Region

Infrastructure, health and education in the Moreton Bay Region are the big winners in this year’s State Budget.

The government has pledged to spend $834.7 million on infrastructure across the region, creating 1600 jobs, with $72.2 million to maintain, improve and upgrade schools.

There’s also $42.9 million for social housing and $4.2 million to deliver specialist homelessness services in the region.

Education funding

Albany Creek State High School: $9 million towards a $14.2 million total for a new building for additional learning spaces.

Caboolture State High School: $3.7 million towards a $15.1 million total for a new building for additional learning spaces and to upgrade skills development and training facilities.

Deception Bay State High School: $2.8 million towards a new hall.

Kallangur State School: $5.5 million of an $8.6 million total for a new building with learning spaces.

Pine Rivers Special School: $9.1 million from a $14.7 million total for a new building housing learning spaces.

Emergency services boost

Dayboro Police Station: $2 million to continue building a replacement facility.

Moreton Bay Central Fire and Rescue: $1.3 million of $6 million to build a new permanent station.

Health spending

Bribie Island Satellite Hospital: $139.9 million of a $280 million total state-wide for seven satellite hospitals.

Caboolture Hospital: $97.3 million of a $399.5 million total for Stage One redevelopment, with 130 new beds and a multi-storey carpark.

Caboolture Satellite Hospital: $139.9 million of a $280 million total state-wide for seven satellite hospitals.

Dakabin Family and Community Place: $7.8 million of a total $8.1 million to deliver and support the Dakabin Family and Community Place at Dakabin State High School.

Morayfield Ambulance Station: $1.1 million of a $6.2 million for the new 24/7 station at Morayfield.

Redcliffe Hospital: $7.4 million of a $35.1 million total for a dedicated paediatric department within the emergency department.

Petrie Ambulance Station: $1.7 million of the $5.5 million total to replace the Petrie Ambulance Station at Lawnton.

Pine Rivers Satellite Hospital: $139.9 million of a $280 million total state-wide for seven satellite hospitals.

Other projects

Bellara Foreshore: $600,000 of $1.5 million for planning, design and construction of new park facilities at Sylvan Beach Esplanade and a boardwalk upgrade.

Caboolture PCYC: $3 million of a $5 million contribution for land for a new PCYC.

Moreton Bay Housing and Homeless Services Hub: $1.2 million from a $3 million total to demolish the old Pensioners Hall at Redcliffe to make way for a combines services centre to support homeless people.

Roads upgrades

There’s $182 million earmarked for the region’s roads in 2022-23, including $33.7 million out of a total $163 million total spend to upgrade the interchange on the Bruce Highway at Deception Bay Rd; and $4 million of a $36.6 million total for design and construction of accessibility upgrades at Burpengary Railway Station.

In 2022-23 $16 million will go towards safety upgrades at the intersection of Eatons Crossing and Mount Samson roads and $128.3 million will be spent on the upgrade of The Bruce Highway between Caboolture-Bribie Island Rd and Steve Irwin Way as part of the $662.5 million Bruce Highway (Brisbane-Gympie) project.