Achievements

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.

The Palmerston Highway

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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 11 times and gained a total $7.7 million in funding to improve ongoing issues. To read more about Shane's fight and wins for the Palmerston Hwy, click here.

Tablelands Community Hub

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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 $1.6 million for the project, along with CST’s contribution of $350,000, and land supplied by TRC.

The project, covering 3000m2 between the Girl Guides Hall and the Library on Robert Street (pictured), has secured the State funding on the conditions of Federal Government meeting them halfway at $1.95 million, which Mr Knuth is confident will come through.

“This is great news for the Tablelands, it’s a rare opportunity to get something in the vicinity of this vital service for our region,” Mr Knuth said.

“With this security of funding through the State and CST we are confident that Federal Government funding will be delivered and we will be in discussions with the Federal Member this week.

“The completion of this will no doubt improve the quality of life for many families, children and seniors,” he said.

Mr Knuth also thanked Minister for Communities Coralee O’Rouke for her assistance, and the former Minister for Communities Shannon Fentiman for the initial Tablelands visit and providing $250,000 for the case study and plans.

John Russell, CST CEO, is excited at the prospect of the community centre going ahead saying it is shovel ready and offers a lot of help to the community.

“This is more than a neighborhood centre, it’s a purpose-built community hub, allowing us to do proactive work focusing on community development, families, children and seniors. It will offer professional services such as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and home community maintenance workers.

“It will also offer transport as far as Mt Garnet for medical appointments, or even to deliver someone to a community event. It also provides a focal point for the community, things like music in the park, a place for get togethers and celebrations,” Mr Russell said.

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

  • $250,000 Navua Sedge Management

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

  • Introduced to Parliament the Fair Mark Milk Bill and Fair Milk Logo

  • 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

Business

  • Reduced fees for small timber millers

  • Helped extend Ravenswood Gold Mine

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

Health

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

  • $4.45 million to upgrade 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

Community Groups

  • $10,000 received from Qld Government for RavRail

  • QCWA Country Kitchens program reinstated

  • Funding for railway sleepers 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 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

Roads

  • $595,000 to upgrade Irvinebank Road

  • $7.7 million to upgrade Palmerston Highway

  • $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

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.