A NEW police station, highway upgrades, a main street upgrade, upgrades at local schools and a significant boost in funding to the Rosewood Community Centre were among the State Budget local funding allocations.
Almost $1.9 million was set aside for the construction of a new police station on the current site.
Rosewood OIC, Sgt Travis Ehrich said he had been heavily involved in the early planning stages of the new station.
“[I wanted] to ensure that it is fit for purpose and have the capacity to meet the ever-expanding population of Rosewood and surrounds,” Sgt Ehrich said.
“Rosewood was recently allocated two additional police officers on a permanent basis to meet these growing demands.”
The station now has seven full time police officers and a full time administration officer.”
“The old station will be demolished, the Officer in Charge residence will be relocated due to its heritage value and the new station will be built on the existing block,” Sgt Ehrich said.
“It will be designed in a modern yet rural design to fit the streetscape of Rosewood.”
Other State Budget allocations included $33,000 of a total spend of $936,654 for planning for the Warrego Highway and the Haigslea Amberley Road Interchange.
Flooding in John Street, Rosewood will also be addressed.
A total of $3 million has been assigned for the design, planning and costing of an upgrade to the stormwater system in John and Railway Streets, as well as reconstruction of the kerbing, drainage, driveways and road surface in John Street.
Funding for local schools was also addressed in the State Budget.
Almost $6 million will be spent on upgrading the classrooms at Rosewood State High School. Around $250,000 has been allocated to upgrade the amenities block at Rosewood State School.
More than $4.5 million will be used to build additional classrooms at Walloon State School.
The installation of electronic security and replacement of amenities buildings at Marburg State School will be undertaken at a cost of $890,000.
Annual funding for the Rosewood Community Centre will be more than doubled to $250,000 a year.
Centre Manager, Donna Hanlon, said the funding would be a game changer for the Community Centre in moving forward to continue to meet the growing needs of the community.
“The increased funding will not only ensure we can meet our basic operating costs but it puts us in the financial position to allow us to employ a full-time community support worker,” she said.
“The support worker’s main focus will be to create opportunities for families and individuals to participate in activities that create positive connections and to increase awareness of what supports, resources and programs are available to them.
“This will also involve taking services out to the surrounding communities of Grandchester, Marburg and Walloon on a monthly basis through Community Connections Pop Up Hubs.
She acknowledged the work of Member for Ipswich West in gaining the funding for the Community Centre.
Mr Madden said the State Budget had “delivered for Ipswich West, across a wide range of areas”.
“I was particularly pleased to see the increase in funding for the two Neighbourhood Community Centres located in my electorate.
“These centres provide services to a wide cross-section of the community, including people who are marginalised or have significant needs.
“They support vulnerable individuals and families with complex needs and connect people with social programs and support services, including counselling, parenting help, financial literacy or crisis supports.”
