Darling Downs
The 2023–24 Queensland Budget supports good jobs, provides better services for all Queenslanders and protects our great lifestyle. On the Darling Downs it provides:
$1.1B on infrastructure
for productivity enhancing infrastructure and capital works, estimated to support around 3,000 jobs in this region.
$1.3B on health
for the Darling Downs and South West Hospital and Health Services.
$64.2M on education
to maintain, improve and upgrade schools on the Darling Downs.
$311.6M for disaster recovery
and betterment projects to local government assets impacted by disaster events between 2019 and 2023. Delivered in partnership with the Australian Government.
$27.9M for social housing
to expand and improve social housing on the Darling Downs.
$6.1M for Skilling Queenslanders for Work
to fund more training opportunities and increase workforce participation.
Delivering better services for the Darling Downs region
Growth from March 2015 to March 2023
693 extra nurses up 39.5%
101 extra teacher aides up 13.8%
71 extra ambulance officers up 26.1%
65 extra firefighters up 63.6%
Delivering for the DARLING DOWNS REGION
Jobs and Regional Growth Fund
9 agreements entered to help private sector projects create employment and economic growth in regional Queensland, which has supported $123 million capital expenditure and 384 jobs on the Darling Downs.
(February 2017 to April 2023)
Building our Regions
$55.4 million allocated to 30 projects for critical infrastructure on the Darling Downs, supporting an estimated 399 jobs. This has leveraged further financial co-contributions statewide of over $539 million from local governments, the Australian Government, and other organisations, with a total capital expenditure value of over $887 million.
(March 2015 to April 2024)
Back to Work
$14 million of payments have been paid to 600 employers on the Darling Downs to employ 1,125 eligible unemployed jobseekers.
(July 2016 to April 2023)
Advance Queensland
$32 million in grants awarded to 378 applicants to drive innovation, build on our natural advantages, and help raise the Darling Downs’ profile as an attractive investment destination.
(July 2015 to March 2023)
Wambo Wind Farm powers jobs and a greener future
Queensland’s transformation to a low carbon emissions future is a step closer with the Queensland Government’s $192.5 million investment in the Wambo Wind Farm near Dalby.
The project is set to deliver 252 megawatts of cheaper, cleaner energy and prevent the emission of 1.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year after opening in 2025. It will support more than 200 construction jobs throughout the project and a further 20 ongoing operations and maintenance roles, while boosting Queensland’s development opportunities in the renewables industry.
Queensland publicly-owned energy generator Stanwell Corporation will acquire a 50 per cent share of the project through a joint venture with Cubico Sustainable Investments, thanks to funding support from the government’s $4.5 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund.
Providing access to affordable, reliable energy supports the government’s commitment to achieve 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035 to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
QUEENSLAND BUDGET 2023-24 AT A GLANCE
Total concessions in 2023-24
$8.2B
Total capital program over 4 years
$89B
Total health funding in 2023-24
$25.8B
Jobs supported by the capital program in 2023-24
58,000
Investment in regional Queensland supported by coal royalties
over $16B
Percentage of capital spend outside of greater Brisbane in 2023-24
65.5%
Additional funding for social housing infrastructure and housing and homelessness support over 5 years
over $1.2B
Total capital investment to support the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan over 4 years
$19B