More road and community infrastructure projects will be rolled out across Far North Queensland thanks to a further $500 million in funding for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
The additional funding was announced in the federal budget.
Far North Queensland councils and shires will receive the following payment through the Phase 3 extension of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
Aurukun Shire Council: $53,749
Cairns Regional Council: $1,830,518
Cook Shire Council: $1,278,916
Douglas Shire Council: $274,337
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council: $63,728
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council: $157,431
Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council: $80,743
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council: $26,740
Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council: $81,455
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council: $177,442
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council: $246,944
Torres Shire Council: $156,288
Torres Strait Island Regional Council: $194,288
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council: $9956
Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said local councils and shires across Far North Queensland would directly benefit from the funding boost.
“This funding injection for our hard-working local councils means even more funding for upgrades to local roads, bike paths, community halls, playgrounds, parks and sports facilities, as well as improved accessibility to public facilities,” Mr Entsch said.
“Providing more time for planning and construction will enable local governments to consider a broader range of priority projects and potentially undertake larger, more complex developments to deliver even great benefits for their communities.”
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the quick delivery of projects under the LRCI Program will stimulate local economies.
“This highly successful program has supported an estimated 9,000 jobs and nearly 7,900 individual projects,” Mr Joyce said.
“Our additional funding brings the total Commonwealth Government commitment to the Local Roads and Community Program to $3 billion.
“Delivering more local road and community infrastructure projects will make and towns and communities stronger and wealthier, and that is why we continue to invest in this vital initiative.”
Federal Local Government Assistant Minsiter Kevin Hogan said the program forms part of the Morrison Government’s commitment to back local councils and their communities through COVID-19 and secure a stronger future out the other side of the pandemic.
“Local councils have been putting in some hard yards supporting their communities through the toughest times of the last few years, so I’m thrilled to be putting even more funding in their hands to help them do that,” Mr Hogan said.
“This program also asks local councils to use local businesses and workforces to deliver their projects where possible and that’s exactly what we have been seeing, meaning these funds continue to flow on to hard-working Aussies, their families, and then back into their communities.”
Councils will be able to access funding through the LRCI Phase 3 extension from July 2023.
For further information on the LRCI Program visit www.investment.infrastructure.gov.au/about/local-initiatives/local-roads-and-community-infrastructure/
