Jobs and services through new schools, healthcare upgrades and major infrastructure investments lead local Bundamba budget highlights following today’s handing down of the 2021-22 State Budget in Parliament.

The Palaszczuk Government’s second budget in six months includes a commitment to build four new schools to support the local community, along with $43.1 million for existing schools and training providers, more than $102.5 million for the continued expansion of Ipswich Hospital facilities and $37 million for essential infrastructure.

Bundamba MP Lance McCallum said the budget delivered on key priorities for the local community.

“Our local community is a massive winner in today’s budget, with all the jobs and economic boosts that come with new schools, health services, roads, housing, renewables and record frontline staff,” Mr McCallum said.

“Our commitment to world-class education continues with a new primary school confirmed for Ripley and another in the Augustine Heights area, both set to open in 2023.

“Bellbird Park will welcome a new primary school in 2024, with a new high school to open that year in the Collingwood Park/Redbank Plains area.

“Existing schools will benefit from a further $39.8 million investment, supporting the expansion and upgrade of schools in Bellbird Park, Goodna, Redbank Plains, Redbank and Ripley Valley.

“The Ipswich TAFE campus at Bundamba will receive $3.3 million for the expansion of its Metal Trades Centre and a new Manufacturing and Robotics Centre as part of our Equipping TAFE for our Future program.

“We’re also backing training and apprenticeship programs though ongoing partnerships between our Rheinmettal Defence Australia at Redbank and local TAFEs and universities.

“A huge local success story – Skilling Queenslanders for Work has been funded permanently and will continue to support our young jobseekers and trainees with $7.3 million for a program that has already helped more than 4,360 locals since 2015.

“A further $8.7 million will help 406 Ipswich employers employ 717 previously unemployed jobseekers as part of our Back to Work program.

“There is a huge boost for local roads and public transport. Sections of River Road and Moggill Ferry Road at Riverview will be upgraded to the tune of $1.14 million; $1.13 million will improve safety along the Cunningham Highway between Redbank Plains Road and Ripley Road; the Bundamba train station upgrade will start with $461,000; continuing funding of $130,000 that will help plan the Ipswich to Springfield passenger transport corridor; and $50,000 will progress the park ’n’ ride business case at Redbank station.

“We’re also supporting Ipswich City Council with $3.35 million under the South-East Queensland Community Stimulus Package; $1.77 million in COVID Works for Queensland funding; more than $1.1 million for our libraries; and almost $100,000 in Advance Queensland grant funding.”

Mr McCallum said the budget included an increased investment in Queensland’s fastest growing healthcare region.

“This means $101.2 million for construction projects to expand and improve facilities at the Ipswich Hospital precinct, including the new mental health unit, and $1.6 million for The Park Centre for Mental Health,” he said.

“The Ipswich satellite hospital will be one of seven delivered across the state at a total cost of $265 million, and our local community will also be supported by the $177 million expansion of Mater Hospital Springfield to include an emergency department, intensive care unit and maternity services.”

Mr McCallum said a total of $3 million would progress the Ripley ambulance station and Ripley police facility.

“These essential services will support one of the fastest growing communities in Queensland, and we’ve also committed $10.2 million for additional catalyst infrastructure within the Ripley Valley Priority Development Area to improve the delivery of land supply for housing,” he said.

“Housing continues to be a clear focus for our government – we’re investing $1.9 billion over four years to increase social housing stock and get more Queenslanders into homes quicker, and that includes almost $52 million in this budget for the Ipswich community.

“We recently opened facilities at Bellbird Park and Redbank, and an additional two sites at Redbank are currently under construction.”

Mr McCallum said the government’s $2 billion record energy investment would continue to power the state’s economic recovery.

“Our commitment to publicly owned power assets and home-grown Queensland renewables continues to keep power prices down for local homes and businesses – they’re already the lowest on the east coast,” he said.

“Now we’re investing $15.2 million in our local Swanbank E Power Station, publicly owned by CleanCo, to support a major overhaul and other works while supporting local jobs.

“This budget represents a huge investment in our local Bundamba community as Queenslanders continue our safe and strong economic and employment recovery from the COVID pandemic.”