North Queensland

Regional delivery — Queensland Budget 2025-26

8
Tracked initiatives
6,378
Health workforce (FTE)
160
Social homes in progress

Highlights

  • Townsville University Hospital expansion — at least 165 new beds
  • Palm Island multi-agency community safety facility ($27M)
  • Kirwan Health Campus expansion ($53.2M)
  • 160 social homes in construction or under contract
  • New Kirwan police facility ($45M)

Health & social services

Health workforce

6,378 FTE staff across Townsville Hospital and Health Service

Social housing

$89.1 million investment

160 homes in construction or under contract

Capital works & projects

28 projects from the Regional Delivery Plan.

Health6 projects
Townsville University Hospital Expansion
CT scanner at Ayr Hospital
Charters Towers staff accommodation
Townsville University Hospital HVAC System mid-life refurbishment$49.8 million
Kirwan Health Campus expansion$53.2 million
Townsville University Hospital car park
Education4 projects
Thuringowa State High School hall air conditioning
Townsville State High School performing arts centre
Charters Towers Central State School refurbishment$500,000
Kirwan State School Multipurpose Hall extension
Transport1 project
Angus Smith Drive Roundabout
Housing1 project
Palm Island Home Ownership
Safety7 projects
Crime Prevention Schools - North Queensland
Crisis Response for Victims Domestic and Family Violence hub - Townsville
Additional District Court Judge for Townsville
Palm Island multi-agency community safety facility$27 million
Townsville Watchhouse upgrade
Kirwan police facility$45 million
Ayr Replacement Fire and Rescue Station Land Acquisition$2 million
Infrastructure2 projects
Burdekin Regional Water Assessment$5.5 million
CopperString
Community6 projects
Community Gro - Garbutt Youth Hub$1.8 million
Home Hill Swimming Pool upgrade$2.1 million
Games On! Greenwood Park Sporting Complex
Games On! Burdekin Netball
Games On! Ingham Tennis Complex
Games On! Jabiru Park$1.6 million
Economy1 project
Palm Island Master Plan Investment$4.9 million

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

Region-specific budget initiatives

Major Hospital Infrastructure (Hospital Rescue Plan)$5.592B totalNewCapitalAnnounced

Three new hospitals at Toowoomba, Coomera and Bundaberg, plus expansions at ten existing hospitals, delivering more than 2,600 new beds across Queensland. The $18.526 billion Hospital Rescue Plan responds to growing demand from Queensland's increasing and ageing population. It also includes 186 public beds at Mater Hospital Springfield with an emergency department and intensive care unit.

Capital, total program cost. Year profile not separately disclosed in BP4 (amounts held centrally).

Hospital Car Parking$332.3MNewCapitalAnnounced

Free or cheaper hospital car parking so patients and visitors are not financially penalised when accessing care. The Hospital Car Parking Program receives $1.338 billion over four years to provide safe and affordable parking for patients, carers, visitors and hospital staff at new and existing hospitals across the state.

2025-26: $332.3M2026-27: $595.6M2027-28: $224.4M2028-29: $185.9M

Capital, total over 4 years from 2025-26

Timely Investment Infrastructure Maintenance (Health)$675MNewCapitalAnnounced

Addresses maintenance backlogs in hospitals so facilities remain safe and functional. The $2.647 billion over five years (plus $200 million per year ongoing) funds maintenance, replacement and refurbishment of Queensland Health's existing assets. This responds to findings in the Queensland Audit Office Health 2024 report and the Sangster Review.

2024-25: $671.9M2025-26: $675.0M2026-27: $550.0M2027-28: $550.0M2028-29: $200.0M

Capital, over 5 years from 2024-25 plus $200M per annum ongoing

Crime Prevention Schools$10MNewAnnounced

Specialist schools for disengaged young people, providing education and support to keep them away from crime. The $50 million over four years funds Crime Prevention Schools that re-engage youth demonstrating high-risk behaviours.

2024-25: $10.0M2025-26: $10.0M2026-27: $10.0M2027-28: $10.0M2028-29: $10.0M

General Government operating, total over 5 years from 2024-25 plus $10M per annum ongoing

Regional Reset Program$12.5MNewAnnounced

Intensive programs in regional areas to intervene early with young people at risk of offending. The $50 million Regional Reset program over four years targets communities where youth crime is concentrated, providing structured activities and mentoring.

2024-25: $12.5M2025-26: $12.5M2026-27: $12.5M2027-28: $12.5M

General Government operating, $12.5M per annum over 4 years from 2024-25

New and Upgraded Police Facilities$16MNewCapitalAnnounced

New and upgraded police stations at Burleigh Heads, Nambour, Logan Central, Mount Gravatt, Boondall, Ferny Grove, Redcliffe, Edmonton, Goodna and Palm Island. Land is also being acquired for future stations at Yarrabilba, Rainbow Beach and Caboolture West. The $277 million capital program replaces ageing facilities and serves growing communities.

2025-26: $16.0M2026-27: $56.0M2027-28: $76.0M2028-29: $89.0M

Capital ($277M) plus operating ($10M) over 5 years from 2025-26 plus $3.3M per annum ongoing. The yearProfile covers 4 of 5 years (2025-26 to 2028-29, totalling $237M); the 5th year (2029-30, approximately $53.3M) falls outside the forward estimates window shown in BP4.

Games On! Grassroots Infrastructure Program$20MNewAnnounced

Local sporting clubs across Queensland get upgraded facilities like lighting, changerooms and playing surfaces. The $250 million Games On! Grassroots Infrastructure Program funds upgrades across more than 130 clubs and schools, from the $42 million Stage 1 Rockhampton Sports Precinct to smaller grants for cricket clubs, surf lifesaving clubs and netball associations.

2024-25: $9.0M2025-26: $20.0M2026-27: $65.0M2027-28: $65.8M2028-29: $16.5M

General Government operating, 2025-26 budget year within total program. The $250M total includes expense ($225.8M) and capital components spread across multiple departments. The yearProfile covers only the primary expense allocation ($176.3M across 5 years); the remaining $73.7M comprises capital and cross-departmental components not separately profiled in BP4.

CopperString Transmission Line$2.4B totalContinuingCapitalLegislated

Connects the North West minerals province to the national electricity grid, unlocking mining and manufacturing investment in outback Queensland. The $2.4 billion CopperString transmission line project opens up the North West to reliable power supply for the first time.

Capital, $2.4B total investment referenced in BP1 p.13. Year-by-year profile delivered through government-owned corporation (Powerlink/CopperString), not broken out in General Government BP4 tables.

Statewide measures

Most budget measures are allocated statewide rather than to individual regions. The full budget overview lists all 87 tracked initiatives, many of which deliver services in North Queensland. The Regional Delivery Plan (linked below) details specific capital works and programs for this region.

Source document

Regional Delivery Plan — North Queensland (PDF)

Last updated: 2026-05-26. Factual information from published budget documents.