Noosa MP Sandy Bolton has welcomed several funding commitments in the Queensland Budget 2026–27, while raising ongoing concerns about housing, health and infrastructure pressures in the region.
Among the major allocations is $86.7 million for the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project.
Funding has also been confirmed for a 32-unit social housing project at Doonella Street in Tewantin, alongside $4.2 million over three years for civil and infrastructure works linked to the Lake Macdonald Drive community housing development.
These form part of the State’s broader $1.024 billion social housing investment program.
Transport and infrastructure commitments include funding for a pedestrian crossing in Pomona and upgrades to Kin Kin Road.
Planning also continues for the next stage of the Tewantin Bypass, with procurement scheduled for 2027–28 and construction not expected until 2028–29, subject to completion of the Federal Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act assessment.
“These confirmations are welcomed and reflect years of advocacy by our communities,” Ms Bolton said.
However, she said broader issues raised by residents and organisations remained unresolved in a Budget that closely mirrored 2025–26.
Housing affordability remained a central concern, particularly for those who fall outside existing eligibility criteria for subsidised housing.
“While it is positive to see funding for the Lake Macdonald community housing development and the 32-unit Doonella Street social housing project, these alone will not address the reality of our workers and elders who are sleeping in cars or couch surfing,” she said.
“The current outdated income eligibility threshold for singles in Queensland is $30,000 below that of Victoria, and unless genuine, affordable accommodations are prioritised by governments, the hardships being experienced will only increase.”
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Health-related funding decisions were also raised, including changes to the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme.
Ms Bolton welcomed the increase in the mileage rate from 34 cents to 45 cents per kilometre, but noted the accommodation component was not included.
“Patients and families who need to travel away from home for specialist treatment will continue facing significant accommodation costs despite years of calls for reform,” Ms Bolton said.
Concerns were also raised about community-based palliative care, following the closures of Katie Rose Cottage and Fraser Coast Hospices, with no new funding identified in the Budget.
“This is unacceptable, and I continue to work with the Katie Rose board to develop a sustainable model and hope to have a positive update in the coming weeks,” she said.
Ms Bolton also highlighted concerns about plans to centralise public dental services in Nambour, which she said appeared inconsistent with Queensland Health priorities around decentralised and locally accessible healthcare.
“Queensland Health continues to identify local solutions and accessible healthcare as priorities, yet services that residents rely on are still at risk of being moved away from Noosa,” she said.
Several long-standing community priorities were also not funded, including a new Tinbeerwah Fire Brigade station, increased Maritime Safety Queensland and community legal centre resources, the Sunshine Beach State High School Advanced Manufacturing Hub and the Nambour–Gympie rail shuttle proposal.
While welcoming some relief for small business through a 50 per cent payroll rebate for apprentices and trainees, Ms Bolton said further reform was needed.
She called for additional payroll tax relief, land tax reductions and transfer duty reform to ease pressure on small and family businesses.
Broader environmental and waste initiatives were acknowledged, including battery recycling, soft plastics and solar panel product stewardship reforms, as well as funding for Noosa Council’s covered resource recovery facility.
Ms Bolton said wider systemic issues remained across Queensland.
“Many of the issues affecting everyday Queenslanders, whether housing affordability, workforce shortages, healthcare access or cost-of-living pressures, are interconnected,” she said.
“This Budget does not resolve those, and we will continue investigating through Estimates, ministerial correspondence and departmental briefings any options available to alleviate these.”
