Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett has put the Premier on notice over failed flood mitigation for Bundaberg ahead of the State Budget.
Mr Bennett said a decade-long delay is simply not good enough.
“It’s been ten years since our region experienced a tragic natural disaster with severe flooding,” he said.
“After many reports and studies, the Palaszczuk Government again reviewed the previous recommendations and finally promised “boots on the ground” in 2015.
“The problem from day one has been the secrecy and lack of information available to residents affected by the flood.
“With the upcoming State Budget it’s a timely reminder of the false and misleading announcements relating to the delayed flood mitigation projects.
“The Government failed to negotiate and communicate with the funding partners in the Federal Government and the many local stakeholders who have continually asked for their ideas and solutions to be considered.
“Many of us still don’t understand what is being proposed and how much is being budgeted.
“It’s important to remember that every project this Labor Government delivers goes over budget, so any announcement of funding should be considered as an estimate, guaranteed to cost many more millions of dollars.
“The levee in Rockhampton is a classic reminder of how badly this Government manages important infrastructure.
“The original project estimates started at $40 million, was revised to $80 million, before they jumped to $130 million.
“In the end, the entire project cancelled.
“We should also note that there’s never been a single cent committed in any budget for the East Bundaberg Flood Levee after promises were made for $42.5 million in 2019.
“There also does not appear to be any allocation in the recent Federal budget.
“What concerns many of us is the politicisation of the flood mitigation issue as well as the anticipated re-announcements of delayed projects like the flood levee in the lead up to the 2024 election.
“The flood mitigation issue is too important to not listen to those who still have major concerns with the original proposals.
“Many in our community will be isolated including everyone on North Bundaberg that have never been seriously included in any solutions.
“What is also typical to a Brisbane focused Government is the attention given to those residents in Brisbane who were affected by recent flooding.
“They had plenty of support and funding including a generous flood buy back scheme, something Bundaberg residents have never been offered at any time in the last 10 years since the flood disaster.”
ENDS.
06/06/2023