The Coalition Government is investing an additional $15 million to support water security and sustainable infrastructure projects in the Torres Strait.
The investment, through the Government’s Major Infrastructure Programme, will be matched by the Queensland Government.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, said concerted efforts by both Australian and Queensland governments over the past 18 years had seen major developments and upgrades to infrastructure, transforming the communities of the Torres Strait.
“This $15 million investment brings Commonwealth and Queensland Government funding for environmental health infrastructure in the Torres Strait more than $250 million since the Major Infrastructure Programme started in 1998,” Minister Scullion said.
“The Major Infrastructure Programme, delivered through the Torres Strait Regional Authority, is a highly successful programme producing much needed environmental health infrastructure for these remote communities.”
Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, who has long advocated for better health outcomes in the Torres Strait, said improved infrastructure was critical in helping communities to achieve this goal.
“Through building water treatment and desalination plants, sewerage treatment plants and waste management facilities, the MIP has helped communities halve incidences of mosquito-borne diseases and hygiene-associated communicable diseases, improving quality of life and reducing the burden on the healthcare system,” Mr Entsch said.
“There are also real and long-term social benefits, because the MIP helps build the capacity of our communities by providing opportunities for jobs, upskilling and training. It also improves living conditions through the creation of subdivisions that boost the amount of much-needed housing for local families, and sees improvements to drainage and roads.”
