Boost of more than half a billion in Budget

MAY 9, 2018: MORE than half a billion dollars of infrastructure investment will be invested into the Dawson electorate and the Bruce Highway in the next financial year.This is a great Budget result for the people of Mackay, the Whitsundays, Bowen, the Burdekin and south Townsville.We’ve seen an additional $3.3 billion invested into the Bruce Highway, with $200 million for safety upgrades, out of which the Dawson electorate will get its fair share.This infrastructure investment includes the considerable work that is underway to build the Mackay Ring Road Stage One, and to commence work on the Haughton River Floodplain Upgrade in the Burdekin.There is also about $1.4 billion in this Budget for Bruce Highway projects which are yet to be allocated and I will be pushing to see the Goorganga Plains Upgrade near Proserpine and a commitment to Stage 2 of the Mackay Ring Road included in this.A number of other infrastructure programmes will also deliver for the region.We’ve got a commitment to extend the Building Better Regions Fund – which delivered 26,000 jobs and 250 projects in the first round – with an additional $200 million now available through a third round.Another popular programme which is now funded for a fourth round is Stronger Communities which delivers co-funding to a whole range of smaller not-for-profit groups.These commitments are on top of the recently announced Regional Jobs and Investment Package projects for the electorate which provided just under $10 million for six projects in Mackay, the Whitsundays and Bowen.