Outback Queensland

Regional delivery — Queensland Budget 2023-24

$675.8M
Capital program
6
Tracked initiatives

Highlights

  • CopperString 2032 transmission line ($594M in 2023-24)
  • Remote Community Freight Contracts
  • Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone
  • Vehicle Immobiliser Trial in Mount Isa

Health & social services

Social housing

$40.8M investment

Capital works & projects

30 projects from the Regional Delivery Plan.

Health7 projects
Normanton Hospital replacement$22.1M in 2023-24 (out of $36.4M)
Camooweal Primary Health Centre replacement$9.6M in 2023-24 (out of $18M)
Charleville Hospital replacement$6.9M in 2023-24 (out of $17.7M)
Morven Community Clinic replacement$7.7M in 2023-24 (out of $17.6M)
Royal Flying Doctor Service Mount Isa Aeromedical Base$2M in 2023-24 (out of $6.9M)
Cunnamulla Multi-Purpose Health Service$5.5M in 2023-24 (out of $6.7M)
Longreach Hospital refurbishment$1.5M in 2023-24 (out of $8M)
Education1 project
Curry Kids Early Learning Centre$1M in 2023-24 (out of $4.4M)
Transport3 projects
Flinders Highway, Scrubby Creek pavement and floodway$16.1M in 2023-24 (out of $42.7M)
Kennedy Developmental Road progressive sealing$11.4M in 2023-24 (out of $50M)
Capricorn Highway (Emerald - Alpha) pavement strengthening$2.5M in 2023-24 (out of $45M)
Housing3 projects
Quilpie Shire Council employee accommodation$1.4M in 2023-24 (out of $2.2M)
Boulia Shire Staff Housing Project$831,600 in 2023-24 (out of $1.3M)
Barcoo Staff Housing$1M in 2023-24 (out of $1.5M)
Safety3 projects
Longreach replacement police facility$50,000 in 2023-24 (out of $13.8M)
Mount Isa new residential accommodation for police$1M in 2023-24 (out of $5.8M)
Youth Co-responder Teams (new Mount Isa team)part of $96.2M statewide over 4 years
Infrastructure1 project
Bulloo Region Digital Connectivity Project$125,000 in 2023-24 (out of $778,500)
Community3 projects
Julia Creek Community Children's Services Hub$1M in 2023-24 (out of $6.3M)
Men's Healing Shed, Cloncurry$400,000 in 2023-24 (out of $619,255)
Aqua play facility - Mount Isa$996,408 in 2023-24
Environment7 projects
CopperString 2032 transmission line$5B investment
Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program (Georgetown)$548,643 in 2023-24
Fred Haigh pump station electro-mechanical overhaul$2.5M in 2023-24 (out of $12.5M)
Cunnamulla water supply pipe replacement (Phase 2)$2.2M in 2023-24 (out of $3.4M)
Cunnamulla water supply upgrade (asbestos cement pipe replacement)$778,318 in 2023-24 (out of $1.9M)
Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone$3.5M in 2023-24 (out of $7M)
Network replacement and enhancements - Outback Queensland$99.9M in 2023-24
Economy2 projects
Boulia Industrial Estate$497,400 in 2023-24 (out of $994,800)
North West Queensland Economic Diversification Strategy$3M in 2023-24 (out of $20M)

Source: Regional Delivery Plan. Not all projects have published amounts.

Region-specific budget initiatives

Youth Co-responder Teams$29.9MExpandedAnnounced

Teams of youth workers and police engage with high-risk young people to divert them from offending and break the cycle of youth crime, part of the government's $446.4 million community safety package.

General Government operating, $96.2M over 4 years and $17.9M per annum ongoing across Youth Justice ($78.1M) and Police ($17.8M). The $29.9M in 2023-24 combines the Youth Justice ($24.459M) and Police ($5.447M) line items.

Helping Seniors Secure Their Homes$11MExpandedAnnounced

Up to $30 million helps seniors install security upgrades so they can feel safer in their own homes.

2022-23: $4M2023-24: $11M

General Government operating, up to $30M over 2 years (including $15M held centrally if needed)

Vehicle Immobiliser Trial$10M totalNewAnnounced

Residents in Cairns, Townsville and Mount Isa can get help to install vehicle immobilisers, making it harder for cars to be stolen.

General Government operating, $10M over 3 years held centrally, administered by the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport. Annual split not disclosed.

Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program$2.8MContinuingAnnounced

200 Indigenous land and sea rangers care for Queensland's environment using traditional knowledge, supporting First Nations jobs and conservation.

2023-24: $2.8M2024-25: $15M2025-26: $15.7M2026-27: $16.4M

General Government operating, $49.9M over 4 years and $16.4M per annum ongoing (indexed)

Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan (Capital Investment)$19B totalContinuingCapitalAnnounced

$19 billion over four years transforms Queensland's publicly owned energy system, including pumped hydro, wind and solar, working towards 80 per cent renewable energy by 2035.

Capital, around $19B over 4 years, largely delivered through government-owned energy corporations within the Big Build. Operating policy funding of $43.8M for plan implementation sits separately in BP4. Year-by-year profile held in the Capital Statement (BP3).

Remote Community Freight Contracts$22.2MExpandedAnnounced

Freight subsidies help reduce the cost of getting goods to remote and very remote communities, easing prices for residents who live far from supply centres.

2022-23: $0.7M2023-24: $22.2M2024-25: $17.5M2025-26: $18.4M2026-27: $19.3M

General Government operating, $77.9M over 5 years ($90.7M over 6 years)

Statewide measures

Most budget measures are allocated statewide rather than to individual regions. The full budget overview lists all 125 tracked initiatives, many of which deliver services in Outback Queensland. The Regional Delivery Plan (linked below) details specific capital works and programs for this region.

Source document

Regional Delivery Plan — Outback Queensland (PDF)

Last updated: 2026-06-21. Factual information from published budget documents.