Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said a proposal to build an international airport between Hervey Bay and Bundaberg has been plucked out of thin air by the Labor candidate for Hinkler.

“The Labor party only just announced in the last three weeks that there would be an international airport in Rockhampton and Infrastructure Australia would conduct a feasibility study.

“So either the people of Hinkler, or the people of Capricornia, are being misled or do we really believe that there will be two international airports in Central Queensland if the Labor party wins Government?”

“I think we need to ask some serious questions of the Federal Labor Party – are they truly committed to this as a project or is it just another thought bubble looking to mislead the voters of Hinkler and the voters of Capricornia?”

Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said there was no business plan in place for an international airport at Rockhampton and that the first priority was to establish a produce for the region to be able to sell.

“Firstly, Rockhampton already has a part international status because military troops fly in directly from Singapore every year to Rockhampton for defence exercises at Shoalwater Bay.

“In terms of a full blown export hub – our first priority is to expand agriculture to have products to sell. That is why the Coalition has announced that we will contribute $130 million (subject to state environmental approvals) to building Rookwood Weir near Rockhampton.

“My concern is that you just can’t make something an international airport and expect that tourism and agriculture is just going to turn up and use it,” Ms Landry said.

“I would question if Labor has done any real homework on what it takes to get an export hub up and running.”

Mr Pitt said we do need to plan, in detail, how it is that we’ll provide the infrastructure that Australia needs.

“Inventing things with no business case, no review and no feasibility study, is how the Labor party destroyed the nation’s finances when last in government.”

“It just demonstrates the Labor party’s absolute, not only lack of conviction, but their absolute lack of respect for taxpayer’s money.

“The taxpayer is the one that will be paying for this, unless of course the Labor candidate for Hinkler is suggesting that it would be paid for by ratepayers given his statement some two weeks ago that he wanted to have both the Hervey Bay and Bundaberg Regional Council Airports sold and privatised.”

Mr Pitt said he will continue to work with his colleagues at local government and state government level in the best interests of the people of Hinkler.

“But we will certainly not be budgeting major pieces of infrastructure on the back of a drink coaster, we need to determine exactly what is required for the future infrastructure needs of our region and that is not determined by putting projects on Bill Shorten’s Spend-o-meter. Eventually someone has to pay the bill.”

Areas in Hinkler will receive improved mobile phone coverage if the Coalition is re-elected as part of an additional $60 million commitment to extend the successful Mobile Black Spot Programme, Keith Pitt, Member for Hinkler announced today.

New mobile base stations in Redridge and Pacific Haven will bring a much-needed boost to mobile coverage, providing benefits to emergency service operators, businesses, and residents.

“The Coalition Government understands the importance of mobile coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia. That is why we are committing an additional $60 million on top of the $160 million already invested in mobile black spots, bringing the Coalition’s total investment to $220 million”, said Mr Pitt.

“We have selected these areas of the electorate because they have been overlooked by mobile network operators due to commercial factors. A re-elected Coalition government will invite mobile network operators to bid for this new funding to provide coverage in the identified locations.

“I met with Redridge residents John Hunter and Jennifer Symons last year to discuss their concerns that areas surrounding Childers did not even have SOS phone coverage.

“They organised a petition, which I tabled in parliament in November, which had 606 signatures from residents in Doolbi, Horton, Abington, Goodwood, North Isis and Redridge.

“I congratulate them for fighting for improvements to mobile coverage in their area which is home to many seniors and some of our biggest farms, and this funding will address this problem.

“The Coalition is committed to improving mobile coverage along major transport routes, in small communities, as well as addressing unique mobile coverage problems such as areas with high seasonal demand.

“The active cooperation of the industry in the Mobile Black Spots Programme to date has been strong with 499 new or upgraded base stations covering around 3,000 black spots already rolled out under Round 1 of the Coalition Government’s programme.”

Minister for Regional Communications Fiona Nash said the Coalition’s huge investments in rural mobile phone towers highlighted Labor’s “do nothing” approach to this important issue.

“The Coalition is investing $220 million into fixing mobile black spots; in six years of government Labor invested $0. The Coalition is fixing 3,000 black spots in Round 1 alone of its Mobile Black Spots Programme; Labor fixed zero black spots. The black spots scorecard reads: Coalition $220 million and 3,000 black spots fixed so far; Labor $0 and zero black spots fixed.”

The Coalition’s $220 million plan to address mobile black spots will ensure regional communities have better access to wider and more reliable mobile phone coverage.

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said a proposal to build an international airport between Hervey Bay and Bundaberg has been plucked out of thin air by the Labor candidate for Hinkler.

“The Labor party only just announced in the last three weeks that there would be an international airport in Rockhampton and Infrastructure Australia would conduct a feasibility study.

“So either the people of Hinkler, or the people of Capricornia, are being misled or do we really believe that there will be two international airports in Central Queensland if the Labor party wins Government?”

“I think we need to ask some serious questions of the Federal Labor Party – are they truly committed to this as a project or is it just another thought bubble looking to mislead the voters of Hinkler and the voters of Capricornia?”

Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said there was no business plan in place for an international airport at Rockhampton and that the first priority was to establish a produce for the region to be able to sell.

“Firstly, Rockhampton already has a part international status because military troops fly in directly from Singapore every year to Rockhampton for defence exercises at Shoalwater Bay.

 “In terms of a full blown export hub – our first priority is to expand agriculture to have products to sell. That is why the Coalition has announced that we will contribute $130 million (subject to state environmental approvals) to building Rookwood Weir near Rockhampton.

 “My concern is that you just can’t make something an international airport and expect that tourism and agriculture is just going to turn up and use it,” Ms Landry said.

“I would question if Labor has done any real homework on what it takes to get an export hub up and running.”

Mr Pitt said we do need to plan, in detail, how it is that we’ll provide the infrastructure that Australia needs.

“Inventing things with no business case, no review and no feasibility study, is how the Labor party destroyed the nation’s finances when last in government.”

“It just demonstrates the Labor party’s absolute, not only lack of conviction, but their absolute lack of respect for taxpayer’s money.

“The taxpayer is the one that will be paying for this, unless of course the Labor candidate for Hinkler is suggesting that it would be paid for by ratepayers given his statement some two weeks ago that he wanted to have both the Hervey Bay and Bundaberg Regional Council Airports sold and privatised.”

Mr Pitt said he will continue to work with his colleagues at local government and state government level in the best interests of the people of Hinkler.

“But we will certainly not be budgeting major pieces of infrastructure on the back of a drink coaster, we need to determine exactly what is required for the future infrastructure needs of our region and that is not determined by putting projects on Bill Shorten’s Spend-o-meter. Eventually someone has to pay the bill.”

Rugby league games and community events in Burnett Heads will be lit up with a funding commitment of $12,500 announced today.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said a re-elected Coalition Government will commit $12,500 to provide lighting for Jack Norgate Oval here at Burnett Heads.

“This has been talked about for a number of years, and I have listened to the local community and I am pleased to deliver this worthwhile project,” Mr Pitt said.

“Lighting at the oval will increase recreation opportunities and will also greatly benefitting local clubs and community groups.”

Burnett Heads Progress and Sports Association president Chris McLoughlin said currently Jack Norgate Oval can only be partially lit, impacting on the safe use the grounds by local families, adding significant cost to running the Lighthouse Festival and limiting Burnett Heads Cutters training.

“The upgrade of the lights has been a community project that the BHPSA has worked towards by obtaining donated poles from Ergon Energy and lights from the Bundaberg Touch Association,” Mr McLoughlin said.

“The funding announced today will enable electricians and tradespeople to undertake work to install the additional lights and connect them to the electricity network.

“These upgrades are important to ensuring our local sporting facility meets the needs of the Burnett Heads community into the future.

“It is our future hope that these upgrades will enable the BHPSA to host community events like outdoor movie nights and will result in the return of junior sport to the Oval.”

Mr Pitt said by providing upgrades to community facilities the Coalition Government is improving lifestyles and building stronger communities.

A re-elected Coalition Government will provide $300,000 for a hydrotherapy pool to be built in Childers.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt announced the funding commitment today and underlined the importance of the project to the local community.

“The Childers community has been very vocal about the need for a hydrotherapy pool and I have listened to their concerns,” Mr Pitt said.

Hydrotherapy pools are used for rehabilitation for the elderly and also those with a disability and injured patients.

“Not only would a hydrotherapy pool be a great asset to the community, it would mean patients would no longer have to travel to Bundaberg for treatment.”

Mr Pitt said Hinkler has an older than average population and this investment would have obvious benefits for the aging residents in the Childers area.

“This is giving regional residents the same resources as bigger towns, so they are getting a fair go.”

Forest View Childers CEO Jenny Nixon welcomed today’s announcement and said a hydrotherapy pool would not only benefit the residents at the aged care facility, but also disabled residents in the area.

“Residents at Forest View would definitely make use of the pool and it means they won’t have to do a 100km round trip to Bundaberg for treatment,” Ms Nixon said.

Forest View is a community-based not-for-profit facility which offers both residential care and independent living to around 80 residents.

“Hydrotherapy is very useful for people who are undergoing physiotherapy after having a joint replacement, so it would help people in those situations.”

The Isis Cultural Centre will be the coolest place to be after a successful funding application to install air conditioning.

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said TSKF Childers Inc had been awarded $10,872 to install air conditioners under the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities program.

TSKF Childers Karate Club Inc holds classes at the centre which is also the main location for functions and events in Childers.

“The Isis Cultural Centre is a great facility and this will make training much more comfortable for students,” Mr Pitt said.

TSKF Childers Inc president John Russo said the installation of the air conditioning would further enhance the existing community facility and making it more beneficial to the residents of the Isis district.

“The Cultural Centre is the main hub for all major and minor events, and functions in the district, and this will make the facility much more comfortable for all community members,” Mr Russo said.

 The Childers Club was originally formed in February 1975 at the Apple Tree Creek Hall with some 80 people training.

 As time passed on the numbers dwindled, and in 1977 the club moved training to the Masonic Hall in Childers where a small band of dedicated students continued to train.

 In February 1982 it was decided to make a concerted effort to re-establish the club, and moved the training to the then new Cultural Centre.

 Since the club was reformed in Childers it has hosted the Queensland Championships in 1987, 1997, 2001, 2010 and 2012 with up to 200 competitors attending, and also held the first Wide Bay Titles in 1984 and have continued to host these titles every year since 1987.

Through the Stronger Communities Program, eligible community groups can apply for grants of between $5000 and $20,000 for small capital projects. All applications need to commit at least matching funding or in-kind contributions.

Each Federal Electorate is allocated $150,000 a year over two years. Applications for Round Two have now closed. For more information go to www.infrastructure.gov.au/SCP

A re-elected Turnbull-Joyce Government will invest $5 million to ensure Stage Two of the Bundaberg Multiplex Project comes to fruition, after strong advocacy from Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced the commitment in Bundaberg today, alongside Assistant Minister Pitt.

“The Multiplex project is a good example of how new civic infrastructure can underpin local jobs while creating state-of-the-art recreational and community facilities for residents and visitors alike,” Minister Joyce said.

“The Coalition is focused on stimulating and sustaining economic growth in regional areas, getting more revenue flowing through local economies, and this project will do just that.

“It will involve construction of a civic hall, community function rooms and a commercial kitchen and cafe, which will provide the missing elements to attract community events, and business conferences to Bundaberg and surrounding communities.”

Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash congratulated Minister Pitt for his advocacy for the project.

“Being from a country town in the Central West of NSW, I know the vital role civic facilities play as a social hub and community focal point in regional communities,” Minister Nash said.

Assistant Minister Pitt welcomed the announcement and underlined the importance of the project to the local community.

“Today’s funding announcement is great news for the Bundaberg region and will bring multiple economic benefits,” Assistant Minister Pitt said.

“Once completed, Stage Two of the Multiplex project will provide the facilities necessary to attract business conferences, community events and major sporting competitions to the region.

“Not only will this project create additional construction jobs, the flow-ons from hosting large-scale events in the region are increased tourist numbers, increased demand for accommodation and increased spending in local restaurants and shops.

“I’ve supported this project from the beginning and it’s wonderful to see it taking shape in the old Bundaberg Showgrounds.”  

The tourism industry in Hinkler and Wide Bay will receive a boost with more than $400,000 in funding under the latest round of the Federal Government’s Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure (TDDI) Program.

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt and Candidate for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien made the announcement today at Nikenbah.

Mr O’Brien said the investment in tourism infrastructure would help attract more visitors to the region and provide a boost for the local economy.

“The Federal Government is providing a funding boost of $439,750 towards the construction of a section of the Maryborough to Hervey Bay Rail Trail between Nikenbah and Urraween.

“The trail will be constructed for use by pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders and will be accessible for year round use,” Mr O’Brien said. 

Mr Pitt said this investment in the local tourism industry will have an important flow-on effect, providing a boost to jobs and economic growth in the region.

“As a community infrastructure project – in conjunction with the Fraser Coast Regional Council which is matching the funding – it will also have positive flow-on effects to provide families and individuals with more facilities to get active,” Mr Pitt said.

“Regular exercise reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and obesity.   

“It can also help manage stress, alleviate depression and anxiety, strengthen self-esteem, enhance mood and boost mental alertness.”

The funds are being provided through the Australian Government’s TDDI program which provides Queensland with $7.8 million to be invested in local projects over four years.

The Minister for Tourism and International Education, Senator Richard Colbeck, said the projects would drive demand and improve the quality of tourism infrastructure.

“The Federal Government is providing $43.1 million over four years to the states and territories for their tourism infrastructure needs,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Projects will help the industry to meet Tourism 2020 targets to ensure businesses remain sustainable and profitable into the future.”

For more information on the Maryborough to Hervey Bay Rail Trail head to:  https://www.railtrails.org.au/trail?view=trail&id=69

The Coalition is getting on with the job of delivering our water infrastructure needs, today announcing $1.2 million to fast track a feasibility study of the Gayndah Regional Irrigation Development project.

The project is part of a $150 million funding commitment to fast-track water infrastructure projects across Queensland announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce yesterday.

“The Coalition is expediting the planning work required to get water infrastructure projects shovel-ready because we are serious about ensuring water infrastructure gets built as quickly as possible, to help support strong regional economies and communities,” Minister Joyce said.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said the study will look at the feasibility of new water storage and irrigation infrastructure options that could provide up to an additional 28,000 million litres to develop 6,800 hectares for sugarcane in the Gayndah region of the Burnett River catchment and boost production by almost 500,000 tonnes.

“This in turn could result in the creation of an estimated 92 jobs and $60 million a year for the regional economy. This project could also result in reinstating the crest level of Claude Wharton Weir,” Mr Pitt said.

Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd welcomed the government’s decision and was buoyant at the prospect of greater water security for the North Burnett.

“Announcements like this, coupled with the work this government has done to open new export markets shows how committed we are to having businesses in the bush not only survive, but to thrive,” he said.

“The North Burnett has some of the most fertile volcanic soils in the country. Couple this with an unpredictable climate and water security fast becomes a priority.

“I’m confident that with projects like this, the North Burnett can return to the fore-front of the state’s primary industry,” Mr O’Dowd said.

Also announced today is $750,000 to fast-track a feasibility study into upgrading the capacity of the Bundaberg Channel.

Mr Pitt said the study will look at the most effective options for channel upgrades, improved water security and augmentation of the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme, with the possibility of 100,000 million litres of additional water available for use.

“It will also look at the potential of the additional water to supply new and existing customers within the scheme or in new areas outside the scheme.”

Minister Joyce said the Coalition was delivering on its $2.5 billion commitment to building the water infrastructure of the future.

“The Coalition is taking action by carrying out the most significant investment in infrastructure in Australian history, including through the roll-out of our $15 billion water reform agenda, so we can make the most of these opportunities.”

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt is continuing to fight to secure funding for mobile black spots in the region.

The Coalition has committed an additional $60 million to extend the successful Mobile Black Spot Program if re-elected.

“This is an issue I have raised with my ministerial colleagues on numerous occasions,” Mr Pitt said.

“There are a number of problems spots throughout Hinkler and these have been put forward by my office for round 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Program.

“In November I presented a petition to Parliament signed by 606 residents in the Redridge area who do not even have SOS phone coverage.

“And just this week I had a call from a constituent in Pacific Haven, who is still having trouble with phone coverage.”

Mr Pitt said he understood the importance of mobile coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia.

“More new mobile base stations will bring a much-needed boost to mobile coverage, providing benefits to emergency service operators, businesses, and residents.

“The active cooperation of mobile network operators in the Mobile Black Spot Program has been strong, with 499 new or upgraded base stations covering around 3,000 black spots nation-wide already being rolled out under the Coalition Government.”

Following the success of the Coalition’s initial $100 million investment, another $60 million funding round is already under way, with successful locations to be announced by the end of 2016.

This means there are further opportunities to improve mobile coverage in Hinkler.

“The previous Labor government did not spend one dollar on fixing mobile black spots in regional and remote Australia,” Mr Pitt said.
 

“The Coalition’s $220 million plan to address mobile black spots will ensure regional and remote communities have access to wider and more reliable mobile phone coverage.”

This is another example of the Coalition’s commitment to drive investment as part of our national economic plan for jobs and growth.