Image: Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie in Mackay last week. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox hosted Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie in Mackay last week, highlighting several projects that were ear-marked for funding in the Dawson electorate that they say are now at risk in the upcoming Federal Budget.
Mr Willcox said the Dawson electorate received multiple funding commitments from the Building Better Regions Fund including $483 million towards building the Urannah Dam, $200,000 for a clubhouse upgrade to Mackay Hockey and $5 million towards Veteran Wellbeing Centres in the Mackay region.
The fund also directed $4.1 million to Mackay Regional Council for the Waterfront Revitalisation Project.
“These projects cannot happen for your average council,” said Mr Willcox.
“We need federal government support and that’s why the Building Better Regions Fund is so important.
“We will be watching what happens in this budget to make sure that we get our fair share because the people of Dawson deserve it.”
Ms McKenzie said that, while in government, the LNP contributed $3.5 billion to the Mackay community towards road projects and community benefit projects.
“We are very concerned about the Government’s silence on regional funding in the lead-up to the Budget,” Ms McKenzie said.
Ms McKenzie said that there is uncertainty around what will happen to projects like the Riverfront Revitalisation Project if the Building Better Regions Fund is cut in the upcoming budget.
“It’s been very clear to us that, when the Treasurer’s been talking about the upcoming budget, that he’s described programs that have funded these sorts of projects in communities like Mackay as wasteful,” she said.
“These are the types of projects and programs that underpin the social and economic wealth of this community, and we need to make sure that Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers don’t remove one single dollar from these communities because we produce the wealth of this country out here.
“We don’t ask for a lot, but we do expect to have adequate investment in our economic infrastructure so that we can have a safe, sustainable and prosperous future just like the capital cities.”
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
