PETER delivers for the North
Roads
A good road network is vital for the safety of North Queensland motorists. That’s why Peter Lindsay has been working closely with local residents to identify their priorities and to get the money to fix the problem spots.
Bruce Highway - This year the Howard Government allocated the largest boost ever to upgrade the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Cairns. All up nearly half a billion dollars will be spent on upgrades, including flood mitigation work on the notorious section south of Tully.
Townsville Ring Road – Earlier this year, work started on the Townsville Ring Road. Costing $119 million, this new high speed motorway will connect the Douglas Arterial across the Bruce Highway going north. The project will provide fast access to the Hospital, James Cook University and Lavarack Barracks. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2008.
Mt Low Parkway intersection – Earlier this year, Peter Lindsay was able to deliver on his promise to upgrade the Bruce Highway near Mt Low Parkway. This dangerous section of road between Veales Road and Woodlands has been given top priority by the Howard Government and received $40 million to let work begin immediately. The highway improvements will address both safety and capacity problems – for the benefit of Northern Beaches commuters and commercial transport vehicles. Work will commence on the upgrades later this year.
Local Roads – In June this year, more than $452,000 was allocated to fix five identified black spots on our local roads. Safety will be improved for motorists, cyclists and walkers, using the Castle Hill Road, after the $192,630 upgrade, through the Federal Government’s AusLink Programme. The works between Stanley Street and The Summit will include improving guard rails, road shoulders and signage.
Works also include the installation of a roundabout, modification of traffic signals and installation of guard rails at sites in the Townsville city, Aitkenvale and Kirwan. The funding is part of the $44.5 million AusLink Black Spot Programme.
-One of Townsville’s most dangerous roads, Abbott Street in Oonoonba, underwent an upgrade to improve safety for pedestrians and motorists, thanks to $600,000 in funding under the Black Spot Programme.
Fighting Crime
The Federal Government recognises that crime and anti-social behaviour threatens the foundation of local communities. Several years ago the Howard Government established a $64 million crime prevention program to fund grassroots attempts to address this scourge. Townsville has benefited from this strategy, receiving funding for Townsville City Council safety initiatives and youth diversion projects.
New crime prevention program - A new program has commenced in Townsville to address juvenile crime, by addressing the risk factors in young people, that latter lead to offending.
The Townsville and District Education Centre (TADEC) received $150,000 funding under the Federal Government’s National Community Crime Prevention Programme, for its new program, that is the first of its type in Queensland.
The Juvenile Empowerment and Development Initiative assists young people aged 10 to 14 to make positive choices and increase their connection and support network within the community. Ultimately the goal of this program is to address the risk factors that lead to latter offending, before they reach 15 to 17 years old, when the majority of juvenile crime occurs. The TADEC program also involves working closely with a number of local agencies that deal with youth justice.
Families
The Federal Government assists 12,883 families in Townsville with the costs of raising children through family tax benefit payments.
From July 2007 more than 2 million families in Australia will be better off through payment increases and tax cuts. The increases mean families on a single income of about $50,000 a year with two young children, will receive around $10,768 year in Family Tax Benefits — an annual boost of $665.
Under the Howard Government, spending on child care is more than double that spent by Labor. The number of child care places available has more than doubled as well under the Coalition.
Family Relationship Centre – The Townsville centre is playing an important role in helping local families strengthen relationships or deal with separation.
Stronger Families and Communities in Townsville West - The Federal Government injected $2.8 million into the new initiative to ensure parents and young children aged 5 years and under, have access to support and assistance in Townsville West (Vincent, Heatley, and Gulliver).
Seniors
The impact of an ageing population on all aspects of Australian society is something the Howard Government has long been planning for. The Howard Government is currently assisting 8,879 people in the Herbert electorate who receive the Age Pension. By 2011, $10 billion a year will be invested into the Aged Care sector, a trebling of funding since Labor was last in power.
Health
Increasing doctors in the North - 50 new medical school places at James Cook University. $15 million towards a $30 million new laboratory space to cater for the additional doctor places at JCU.
-The Townsville Afterhours+GP Service received a funding boost of $173,525.
Bulk-billed MRI – It was great news for patients across the North, with introduction of bulk-billing for MRI scans at the Mater Hospital. Patients previously had to pay up to $400 for a scan.
New treatment for prostate cancer - Townsville men suffering prostate cancer no longer have to travel to Brisbane to receive the very latest form of treatment. The Mater Hospital is the first regional hospital in Australia to provide the Prostate Seed Brachytherapy treatment, thanks to Federal Government funding of $402,987.
New programme to address mental illness – In June this year, Townsville’s Ozcare started to deliver the new Personal Helpers and Mentors Program. The new initiative makes a great difference to people whose lives are severely affected by mental illness.
Schools
Investing in our schools - Across Townsville the Howard Government has invested $3.6 million to assist 92 schools to bring their facilities up to scratch. These grants have helped our local primary and secondary schools upgrade classrooms; library and IT resources; music facilities; play equipment and sporting infrastructure.
In 06/07 the Howard Government has funded state and independent local schools to the tune of $47 million in recurrent spending.
Educational achievement - To improve educational achievement across Australia, the Howard Government has introduced mandatory literacy testing for all children in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Schools are now required to report on children’s learning using a clear, A to E grading system so that parent’s can know how well their children are progressing.
James Cook University
- JCU will benefit directly from the Federal Government’s unprecedented $5 billion investment in the perpetual Higher Education Endowment Fund and additional spending of $4 billion over four years.
- In January 2007, JCU received a Federal Government funding boost of $12 million. Last year JCU didn't fill all of its student places and would normally be required to refund this money to the Commonwealth. But Peter Lindsay was able to work behind the scenes to secure an arrangement where the university has been able to retain a significant per cent of the Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS) funding in 2007.
Environment
Townsville Solar City - Townsville made history at the end of last year by being named Queensland’s first Solar City. By using the latest technology to build solar energy capacity and improve energy efficiency, Townsville will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50,000 tonnes.
Protecting our Reef – Protection for our Great Barrier Reef Marine Park will be strengthened with $15.6 million in new funding in the 2007-08 Federal Budget.
- Peter Lindsay has played a vital role in the implementation of the Representative Areas Program making the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park the best protected reef system in the world.
Green Corps – Over the years, Peter Lindsay has secured funding under the Green Corps programme to improve our local environment by repairing riverbanks and encouraging people to be more careful in their environment.
Magnetic Island – Peter Lindsay fought to have 90 per cent Magnetic Island protected as a national park.
-Funding of more than $387,000 assisted the Townsville City Council to develop formal walking paths and a 100 metre boardwalk on Nelly Bay Road on Magnetic Island.
Green Vouchers for schools – Weir State School and Townsville State High School were the first schools in Townsville to receive the Federal Government’s $50,000 Green Voucher. The funding will allow the schools to install rainwater tanks and solar hot water systems.
Defence
Improvements for Defence Personnel – The Federal Government will continue to maintain its huge financial investment of around $350 million in 2007-08, to the funding of Defence facilities and personnel serving in Townsville.
-This year, more than 3,000 Townsville ADF personnel received a pay rise of up to $5,000 a year.
– ADF allowances were increased after Peter Lindsay called for them to be reassessed.
-Defence families in Townsville benefited from an extra 230 child care places under a major expansion of the Defence Child Care Program.
Facilities - $20 million facility at Townsville’s RAAF Base to support the Multi-Role Helicopter 90 (MHR90) aircraft. Included is a state-of-the-art mission planning and computer based training facility and a composites material workshop.
-All of Australia’s Caribou’s to be based at Townsville’s RAAF Base by the end of this year.
-In 2006, the helicopter underwater escape trainer facility at Lavarack Barracks was opened.
-New Defence Business Centre at Lavarack Barracks opens to provide travel advice and support services for Australian Defence and Defence civilian personnel.
Infrastructure - $207 million stage 4 redevelopment of Lavarack Barracks. Construction expected to be completed by 2010.
-$350 million for new working accommodation for 3RAR.
- 540 single soldier accommodation units at Lavarack Barracks worth $50 million on top of the 1,004 living in units already completed.
Equipment - $5.6 million of new equipment for Lavarack Barracks. The 3rd Combat Engineering Regiment equipped with 9 bulldozers and 6 graders to carry out vital construction work and disaster relief.
- Lavarack firepower -the 105mm guns of 4 Field Regiment to be replaced with new and more effective 155mm guns. The new system to be brought into service over the period 2011-2013.
- Townsville’s Chinook helicopters underwent a $25 million upgrade to fit them with electronic warfare and ballistic protection and advanced communications.
Jezzine Barracks – Gifting of majority of Jezzine Barracks step closer with work beginning on remediation, refurbishment and redevelopment of the Army component of the site, prior to the handover. This will be the first $4 million to be spent on the site.
The Federal Government will make a grant of $10 million to the community trust on the condition that Townsville City Council matches the contribution. In addition, the Government will also provide a further $10 million, subject to the Queensland Government matching the additional contribution.
Hand over of HMAS Townsville – Together with the community, and Peter Lindsay’s tireless work behind the scenes, we were able to secure the HMAS Townsville for our local community. The Townsville Maritime Historical Society plans to preserve and exhibit the vessel as a display, which will allow current and future generations to explore and appreciate the region’s maritime history.
Addressing skills shortage
Australian Technical College – North Queensland – This year, about 150 apprentices commenced at tech college in Douglas. The Federal Government’s tech school allows Year 11 and 12 students to start apprenticeships, and earn while they learn.
Increasing apprenticeships - The number of apprentices in training has more than doubled since the Coalition was elected. In Townsville there were 1,370 apprentices in training in March 1996 compared to 3,440 in Sept 2006 – an increase of more than 2,000 potential ‘tradies’ to keep our local industry strong.
Lifestyle
Murray Sports Complex – Earlier this year, Peter Lindsay delivered a funding injection of more than $6 million towards the upgrade of Murray Sports Complex.
Thuringowa Riverway Sports Complex - $6.9 million of Federal Government funding has been provided to help meet the costs of the sports complex.
Sports facilities – JCU will soon be home to a new sports and recreation facility thanks to Federal Government funding of $4.56 million.
Other local projects –Funding has also been provided for upgrades at the ATSI Cultural Centre and Maritime Museum. Funding has also been provided to various local arts projects, festivals and youth programs.
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