TOURING properties in western Queensland today, the Premier confirmed that her government was taking action to find the best way forward on several issues including wild dogs, distance education and transport.
Wild dog eradication plan
The Palaszczuk Government will invest an additional $5 million to tackle problems caused by Queensland's escalating number of wild dogs.
"This was an election pledge that I'm determined to deliver, because we understand the urgency involved," she said.
"High wild dog populations throughout the region are causing livestock losses, particularly in the sheep industry. Cattle producers are also reporting an increased impact on younger stock.
"Landholders indicate that the wild dog predation in the central west region is responsible for costs to animal producers and local government of up to $13.5 million a year."
"On a tour of drought impacted communities in March, my Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne held discussions with key stakeholders in western Queensland about strategies to tackle wild dogs.
"I have asked my Agriculture Minister to continue speaking with farmers, councils and other stakeholders so that we can develop a consensus approach to this issue."
The Premier said reaching a consensus was important before moving forward.
"We know there's a variety of opinions as to the best ways to manage the impacts of
wild dogs.
"One thing everyone can agree on, however, is that wild dogs are having a devastating impact in the region.
"We all need to work together to limit the damage these animals have on livestock in our regions."
Distance education families to receive funding
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced extra funding for Queensland's Schools of Distance Education to help relieve the financial pressures faced by drought-affected families in remote areas.
While meeting parents and students in Barcaldine with Education Minister Kate Jones,
Ms Palaszczuk said up to $250,000 in extra funding would be distributed this year through the Rural and Remote Education Access Program (RREAP).
"We know there are many Queensland families out there doing it really tough because of the drought," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"And that includes many families with children enrolled in one of Queensland's seven state Schools of Distance Education.
"This extra funding will help these schools reduce the extra costs to families of participating in school activities such as residential camps and mini-schools.
"These face-to-face activities are an important part of the distance education curriculum and they help to maximise learning outcomes for students.
"My government is committed to providing all young Queenslanders with access to a quality education, regardless of where they live or attend school."
Education Minister Kate Jones said it was important that distance education students didn't miss out on important education activities because of the drought.
"Queensland's Schools of Distance Education have a long and proud tradition of educating geographically isolated children across the state, and we know they already do a great job at minimising costs to families," Ms Jones said.
"This extra funding will allow our distance education principals to further relieve some of the financial burden associated with these activities while large parts of the state are still drought declared."
Ms Jones said the funding would be allocated to Queensland's seven state Schools of Distance Education next month to support programs across Terms 2 and 3, when most of the face-to-face programs occur.
Longreach School of Distance Education Principal Rowena Arthur said the extra funding would provide welcome relief for many families at the school.
"Some of our students travel many hours and hundreds of kilometres to have opportunities to interact face-to-face with other students in their class," Ms Arthur said.
"This unrelenting drought is having a significant impact on families in Western Queensland and I know they will be grateful for the extra help towards the reducing the costs of accessing this aspect of their children's schooling."
*For further information visit www.rreap.qld.edu.au and www.education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/distance
Green light for freight link
THE green light has been given to a $10 million rebuild of a vital inland freight route destroyed by an explosion last year.
In Charleville today, Ms Palaszczuk announced that Davbridge Constructions has been awarded the tender to build a new bridge over Angellala Creek.
"It's all systems go for this crucial transport link on the Mitchell Highway, with construction set to start in June this year," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"As an added bonus, this project will deliver 24 jobs for workers at a time when job and job security are more important than ever."
When a truck carrying ammonium nitrate overturned on the Mitchell Highway between Cunnamulla and Charleville in September last year, it was billed as the Australian mainland's biggest ever peace time explosion.
"The Angellala Creek Bridge on the Mitchell Highway was completely wiped out by that massive explosion. It's a miracle that no one was killed," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"The bridge was the only significant structure on the Mitchell Highway between Cunnamulla and Charleville and provided a vital freight link for B-Doubles and other heavy vehicles.
"I'm pleased to announce today that work to rebuild a permanent link will start less than a year after the explosion that shut down this crucial transport corridor.
The new bridge, 30 kilometres south of Charleville, will be widened to 9.2 metres to meet current engineering standards and will be one metre higher than the old bridge to provide better flood immunity. It will be built to withstand a one in 15 year flood event.
"Roads are the lifeblood of communities in regional and remote parts of Queensland.
People who live and work here rely on a robust and reliable road network.
That's why a new bridge across Angellala Creek is a priority for my Government," Ms Palaszczuk said.
Three 22-metre spans are proposed to be built to support the bridge to best fit in with the existing damaged infrastructure.
Construction is expected to be completed by late November this year, weather permitting.
