Achievements & Projects

With the help of the community we have achieved the following for the Hill Electorate, and will continue to fight for the ongoing issues we face in our area.

Atherton Hospital

Mission Beach Clump Point Boating Infrastructure Project

It has been a long battle to gain approval for the construction of the $24 million Mission Beach Clump Point Boating Infrastructure Project. The good news is stage one is almost complete and now open to public. This exciting project will ensure safe access, reduce congestion and create a boost to the economy.

The Palmerston Highway

Before the Palmerston Highway was even in Shane Knuth's electorate Shane began fighting for a safer highway. Many people within the community were up in arms about the state of the highway, especially considering it is the main access point for produce, farmers, and even windmill blades and construction transportation. 

Although the ideal solution would be to re-construct the entire road to better suit the tropical climate and conditions, Shane has stood up in Parliament more than 11 times and continues to get funding to improve the highway.

The Tully Grandstand

After persistent lobbying with user groups and the community, it’s fantastic to see all the hard work paying off with the construction of the $7 million Tully Grandstand and Sporting Facility now complete.

Navua Sedge

The navua sedge weed is causing destruction to our agricultural industry, but with persistent lobbying to the Minister and his department with regional reps and Malanda Beef Plan Group (pictured), we are slowly making inroads and will continue the fight against this destructive weed.

North Johnstone Transfer

The North Johnstone Transfer project is back on the table after several meetings with Minister for Natural Resources Anthony Lynham MP and his department. The project is simple and designed to transfer water during flood harvest via an underground pipeline from the upper North Johnstone River into the Barron River and then into Tinaroo Dam. This scheme is a winwin, as it would help alleviate lack of water issues and provide recreational users access to Tinaroo all year round.

Milk Levy

Prior to when the industry was deregulated by the Federal LNP in the year 2000 there were 1,500 Dairy Farms in Queensland. Now there are 340. I have tabled two Bills to parliament to help the industry - The Milk Pricing (Fair Milk Mark) Bill 2013 and the Sustainable Queensland Dairy Production (Fair Milk Price Logos) Bill 2016. Both these Bills were endorsed by the milk industry and dairy farmers. Both these bills were voted against by the major parties. This year I put a motion to parliament that for every litre of milk sold in supermarkets, 10 cents goes directly back to the farmer. We are also calling for the minimum price scheme and a rescue package to help save the dairy industry in Queensland.

Tablelands Community Hub

Shane Knuth MP has been working with CST (Community Services Tablelands) to secure $3.9 million for funding for a new community centre in Atherton – after more than four years of lobbying, the State Government has committed to paying $1.9 million for the project, along with CST’s contribution of $350,000, and land supplied by TRC.

The project has secured the State funding on the conditions of Federal Government meeting them halfway at $1.95 million, which Mr Knuth is hopeful will come through.

The centre is set employ around 40 people and will consist of just as many volunteers eager to play their part in the community.

Agriculture

• Successfully lobbied $250,000 and worked with Malanda Beef Group to continue with the battle against Navua Sedge.

• Helped gain $7,300,000 funding allocated for Panama disease TR4 outbreak

• Introduced to Parliament the Fair Mark Milk Bill and Fair Milk Logo which has resulted in providing the Queensland Dairy Organisation with funding to help implement a logo scheme.

• Secured passage and passed Real choice in Marketing legislation for cane growers

• Tabled Safer Waterways bill to control crocodiles

• Advocating the protection of prime agricultural land

• Have also assisted in removing stamp duty on family transfer of agricultural property

• 4% Ethanol Mandate

• Assisted in securing $1 million funding to help control feral pigs in the Cassowary Coast

Business

• Reduced fees for small timber millers

• Helped extend Ravenswood Gold Mine

• Won the battle to keep local Tabelands milk contracts in Cairns and Hinterlands Health region

• Education

• $590,910 for Ravenshoe State School H Block and Hall (tuckshop)

• New Administration Block in Yungaburra State School

• $540,000 for Yungaburra State School B Block upgrade, stairs and tuckshop

• $2.3 million for the Atherton State High School Special Education Unit upgrade

• $1,000,000 allocated to replace ceilings in C-Block at Atherton State High School

• $54,000 funding allocated for Ravenshoe Prep playground

• $44,000 allocated for the construction of a shade structure for Yungaburra State School

• $323,000 capital works for Malanda State High School

• $3.65 million to replace the dairy at Ravenshoe State School

• $200,000 for home economic learning space at Ravenshoe State School senior campus

• Air-conditioning for three schools in Moranbah

• Air-conditioning for Charters Towers High School

• Air-conditioning for Atherton Primary School

• Air-conditioning upgrade for Walkamin Primary State School, and concrete pathways and stairs

• Paths and early learning program for Malanda Primary School

• Expanded air conditioning for Malanda State High School

Health

• Clear waitlists for plastic surgery Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and health service

• $4.45 million for a new Dimbulah Primary Health Care Clinic

• $70 million for upgrade/refurbishment of Atherton Hospital Emergency Department and Operating Theatre

• Contributed in the Opening of Ap-Morphine Clinic in Cairns

• Assisted with providing midwifery services at Atherton Hospital

Community Groups

• $10,000 received from Qld Government for RavRail

• QCWA Country Kitchens program reinstated

• Funding for railway sleepers and assisted in gaining $40,000 for Atherton Herberton Historical Railway

Community Safety

• $6.9 million for Atherton Police Station ($150,000 for preliminary works study)

• Two additional QPS officers appointed to Malanda

• $2.6 million for the construction of a new Herberton Fire Station and Dimbulah Fire Station

• Funding allocated for the upgrade of Millaa Millaa QPS building

• Support for First responders in Herberton

• Funding for domestic violence shelter in Charters Towers

• Successfully fought against Newman Government cuts to rural firies

Community Lifestyle and Wellbeing

• $250,000 for feasibility study to establish Community Service Tablelands Community Hub

• $71,720 allocated for Charters Towers Netball amenities block

• Helped overturn the proposed forced land grab near Charters Towers for military training

• Appointment of counsellor at Ravenshoe following café explosion tragedy

• Reinstated lawn mowing vouchers trial on the Atherton Tablelands

• $500,000 for equipment to undertake a study of flying fox behaviours in Charters Towers as part of a $2.7 million state-wide commitment over three years for flying fox management

• Helped secure $50,000 to complete the construction of a boat equipment shed to support rowing and outrigging at Yungaburra worth $100,000

• $1.5 million to complete the construction of an asphalt track surface incorporating drainage improvements to support motor sports at Charters Towers

Power, Water and Waste Infrastructure

• $603,000 funding for Burdekin Moranbah water pipeline

• $33.6 million for redevelopment of Moranbah substation

• Lobbied with irrigators in the approval process for Big Rocks Weir

Roads

• $6 million funding to upgrade the dangerous East Feluga Intersection near Tully

• $595,000 to upgrade Irvinebank Road

• $7.7 million to upgrade Palmerston Highway - and ongoing

• $1 million to upgrade Rocky Creek intersection

• $5 million to upgrade Upper Barron Road

• Upgrade Nettle Creek Bridge at Innot Hot Springs

• Upgrade Millaa Millaa East Evelyn intersection

• Upgrade Atherton-Yungaburra Road

• $77 million to upgrade last remaining sections of the Gregory Development Road which includes new upgraded bridge for Cape River

• Upgrade East Evelyn Intersection

• Upgrade Tumoulin Kennedy Highway Intersection

• Funding to seal last remaining unsealed section on Upper Barron Road

• Ongoing funding for Millaa Millaa - Malanda Road

• Continued lobbying for local contractors to maintain regional roads

Tourism

• Re-stocking of Red Claw in Lake Tinaroo

• Approval of Clump Point Boating Infrastructure Project

Other

• Introduced North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability (renewal of mining leases) Amendment

• $14 million Reinstatement of Mareeba Airport project upgrade

• Condemning of politicians’ massive pay rises

From 2012 to 2015, Shane had the opportunity to deliver 136 speeches in Parliament; placed 86 questions on notice; 55 questions without notice and tabled 14 petitions advocating for a range of issues including:

• Desecration of Herberton old mine sites

• Upgrade of the Atherton Tableland’s road network

• Protection of prime agriculture land

• Revisit the Tully hydro-electric power generation scheme

• Kirrama Range repair and upgrade

• Mandate of ethanol for job creation and for our own produced clean fuel

• Secured 4% mandate of ethanol for job creation and for own produced clean fuel

• Petitioned for flashing lights school zone signs

• Opposition to the sale of the profitable assets

• Protection of the country racing industry

• Opposing the increase in water charges to Atherton Tableland irrigators

• Retention of specialist medical service on the Atherton Tablelands and far North Queensland and many other important issues.