Island budget boost

THE 2024-25 Tasmanian State Budget contains a range of direct funding appropriations and policy programs that will benefit King Island, both directly in indirectly. 

King Island Mayor Marcus Blackie said Budget allocations are a testament to the state government’s recognition of the unique needs of King Island.

“Most of this is a dividend of our very successful lobbying over recent years,” Mr Blackie said.

Appropriations pertaining to King Island include: 

• King Island Ambulance Station - Funding is provided to build a new ambulance station in King Island to accommodate the additional paramedics funded to meet community demand. This initiative is part of the government’s $21.7m capital expenditure investment for Ambulance Tasmania. $5m over the next four years. • More Paramedics - Funding to recruit an additional 51 full-time paramedics, including 27 full-time community paramedics will be recruited over four years to 13 rural and district hospitals.

 • Support for the King Island Community - Funding over four years to support the continuation and expansion of services and activities in the King Island community. $74,000 pa 4 years

• Drought Support : TasFarmers - This initiative will provide additional one-off grant funding to TasFarmers to expand their community drought outreach coordination activities on King Island, Flinders Island and mainland Tasmania to facilitate drought response and recovery. Total $150,000

• King Island Council - Funding for council to replace the roof on the former Agriculture Department (now KIRDO) building. $108,000

• Early Years Workforce Development Fund - A settling incentive of $2500 for ECEC staff to relocate to remote and hard-to-staff locations including Flinders and King Islands and the West Coast; and retention incentive bonuses of $2500 for every year of service, between 4-6 years, for staff who remain at the same ECEC provider in rural, isolated or hard-to-staff areas.

 • King Island Gun Club - This initiative will fund the upgrade of the King Island Trap House. $15,000

• Swimming Association of King Island - This initiative will fund the replacement of pool blankets. $19,000

• Unlocking Housing Development on King Island - This initiative will deliver funding to unlock large scale subdivision work on King Island to help meet growing demand for essential housing. $1,200,000 

• Shipping and Ferry Subsidies - Subsidy Output relates to payments for the provision of services for the Bruny Island Ferry, Furneaux Islands Group Shipping and King Island Shipping. Total for state $1,200,000

 • Grassy Harbour Expansion Study $150,000. 

Drought Support - Bass Strait Islands Water Resilience Program - This initiative will deliver a Bass Strait Islands Water Resilience Program to develop Water Security Strategies to identify improved water storage, reticulation, and other water security measures through rebates for water infrastructure to address animal welfare needs and improve resilience to drought. Total $1,230,000

 • Drought Support - Bass Strait Islands and the Mainland of Tasmania Additional Sailings. This initiative will support delivery of additional sailings and, if achievable, fodder relief for the Bass Strait Islands and the mainland of Tasmania. Total $1,500,000.