Premier's message
I was delighted to be back on the Gold Coast for this, my 16th Community Cabinet. Giving Queenslanders the opportunity to have one-on-one contact with ministers, department heads and me is a high priority for my Government.
The Gold Coast region is progressing fast and I am pleased that we could announce some exciting initiatives and infrastructure projects. The Rapid Transit system is one such project, which will literally change the face of the Gold Coast, as well as generating 6300 jobs. It is an essential piece of tourism infrastructure for the future.
The Community Cabinet coincided with my participation in the Asics Half Marathon. Minister for Transport Rachel Nolan, Deputy Premier Paul Lucas and Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor also competed on the day. Congratulations to the winners of this year's event and to the record 23,398 participants. It is a great event on the Gold Coast calendar.
I was happy to welcome Ben Southall, winner of the 'Best Job in the World' to Queensland. This was Ben's first visit to the Gold Coast, where he competed in the Half Marathon and visited Sea World. He will be a great ambassador for Queensland as he spreads the tourism message around the world. I was also pleased to name Mieko Kobayashi, one of the 'Best Job in the World' finalists, as Queensland's tourism ambassador to Japan.
Thank you for making us so welcome on the Gold Coast.
Anna Bligh MP
Premier of Queensland
Green light for Rapid Transit system
Federal Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot, Premier Anna Bligh and Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke signing the Rapid Transit project agreement.
Work will soon begin on the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system, creating thousands of jobs and providing infrastructure needed for a growing city.
Premier Anna Bligh signed an agreement for the $949 million project with Federal Minister Justine Elliott and Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke to jointly fund the Rapid Transit project. The State Government has committed $464 million.
'The project will generate 6300 direct and indirect jobs during construction and create the infrastructure the Gold Coast needs to thrive,' Premier Bligh said.
'This will be the only light rail system in the State, and it will literally change the face of the Gold Coast.'
The project will be delivered in three phases: early work from mid 2009 to mid 2011, operator procurement from mid 2009 to early 2011 and infrastructure delivery from early 2011 to late 2013.
The Rapid Transit system should be up and running by January 2014.
Announcements
Milestone for Hinze Dam upgrade
Minister for Natural Resources Stephen Robertson has welcomed the halfway mark of the $395 million upgrade of the Hinze Dam.
The upgrade, on track for its December 2010 completion, will increase the dam's storage capacity from 169,000 megalitres to 309,700 megalitres.
The project employs 280 people and offers 24 traineeships.
Green Army to invade the Gold Coast
Queensland's Green Army ranks will swell when 30 Gold Coast jobseekers begin work on three environmental projects in Southport, Burleigh and Nerang.
Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development Andrew Fraser said the Gold Coast City Council will run the project with a grant of $487,750 for the recruitment of workers.
Training support for at-risk apprentices
Minister for Education and Training Geoff Wilson visited the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE during Community Cabinet.
Mr Wilson met with staff and students involved in the Supporting-Out-of-Trade Program to help apprentices complete their training.
The program was launched at the institute in November 2008 and now has 60 enrolled student trainees.
CoastSAFE keeps an eye on the beach
CoastalCOM, a Burleigh-based developer of an online safety and monitoring system for local beaches, is taking its technology to an international workshop in September.
Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development Andrew Fraser said CoastalCOM received a $1 million Smart State Innovation Projects grant last year to develop its CoastSAFE Alive technology.
Rebate scheme to reduce bycatch
A $1 million rebate scheme is now available to help trawler fishermen use more effective bycatch reduction devices on their nets.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin officially launched the scheme at the Gold Coast Fishermen's Co-operative.
Download guidelines and an application form or phone 13 25 23.
Gold Coast Highway upgrade progressing
Minister for Main Roads Craig Wallace has inspected the final stages of the $12.4 million Gold Coast Highway upgrade and bus lanes project.
Stages one and two of the project, from Hilda Street Mermaid Beach to Chairlift Avenue Miami, have helped sustain over 60 jobs.
Maintenance on six Gold Coast roads
Maintenance work has commenced on six Gold Coast roads, at a cost of $3.7 million.
The locations are Kalbar Connection Road at Kalbar, Waterford-Tamborine Road on the border of Tamborine and Yarrabilba, Tamborine Mountain Road at Tamborine, Beechmont Road at Lower Beechmont, Nerang-Murwillumbah Road at Advancetown and Springbrook Road at Springbrook.
Work will be carried out between 6.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
New ambulance station for Mt Tamborine
Minister for Emergency Services Neil Roberts has opened Mount Tamborine's new $1.9 million ambulance station.
The new station is next door to the old ambulance building, opened in 1975, and is home to a new two-way communications tower
Mr Roberts also handed over two new ambulances with a combined value $360,000.
'A L Greaves' launched for Water Police
Minister for Police Neil Roberts and Commissioner Bob Atkinson have officially launched the 'A L Greaves', a new $230,000 Queensland Water Police vessel.
The 'A L Greaves', a 7.3 metre 'Noosacat' catamaran, will be housed at the Gold Coast District Water Police headquarters.
Grant to help young homeless people
Lawson House homeless shelter will have the services of an extra night shift worker, thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Bligh Government.
In the first half of 2009, the Gold Coast Project for Homeless Youth, which runs Lawson House, has helped 76 young people put their lives back on track.
$6 million housing revamp
Minister for Housing Karen Struthers has announced a $6 million spending boost to spruce up social housing on the Gold Coast.
Ms Struthers said the funds were part of an $80 million maintenance and repair program being rolled out across the state.
Affordable housing units for Southport
Minister for Housing Karen Struthers and Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading and Member for Southport Peter Lawlor have inspected construction work of nine affordable housing units at Southport.
The development is part of a $20 million package for the Gold Coast Housing Company to build and manage affordable housing in the region.
New nutraceutical jobs
A Gold Coast nutraceuticals (natural medicines and cosmetics) company will expand its business and create 10 new jobs over the next 20 months, thanks to funding from the Bligh Government.
Parliamentary Secretary for Employment and Economic Development Jan Jarratt inspected International Health Investments' new Burleigh facility while on the Gold Coast for Community Cabinet.
Disability funding for Gold Coast
Minister for Disability Services Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced funding for two disability agencies on the Gold Coast.
The State Government is providing $500,000 to the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland to move its Labrador operations to a new facility in Ridgeway Avenue Southport.
Funding of $925,000 is also going to FSG Australia to run the Mosaic Program on the Gold Coast to assist people with a mental illness in their transition from hospital.
Training for Indigenous youth
A jobs training program on the Gold Coast is giving eight young Indigenous people in the region a head start in the building industry.
Minister for Community Services Karen Struthers said QBuild has engaged BoysTown to do fencing work as part of the Nation Building - Economic Stimulus Plan.
'Under the plan, we're spending $80 million to spruce up social housing stock across Queensland,' Ms Struthers said.
