Central Highlands Council gets Royalties funding

Central Highlands Regional Council has been shortlisted to progress a proposed project in the first round of the Royalties for the Regions program. 

Central Highlands is one of six regional councils to progress 20 projects for funding under the program. 

The Deputy Premier and the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said $60 million was available to councils under the pilot first round of Royalties for the Regions. 

“Royalties for the Regions is a $495 million four year program that is about reinvesting a share of royalties in resource regions to help build new and improved community, road and floodplain security infrastructure, ” Mr Seeney said. 

“This pilot funding round is focusing on critical or urgent infrastructure needs in resource communities.” 

Mr Seeney said the Central Highlands Regional Council would now be asked to develop and submit a business case for the Nogoa River Rail Bridge Capacity Improvement project under the Floodplain Security Scheme. 

Mr Seeney said the shortlisted councils will have to submit business cases to the government for a final funding decision. 

“The heartening news is that councils have identified more than $20 million in financial contributions from their budgets and industry,” he said. 

“By leveraging this additional funding, Royalties for the Regions will help deliver better outcomes for resource communities.” 

Mr Seeney said the short-listed flood projects for Emerald and also Roma are prime examples of what the Floodplain Security Scheme was designed to fund. 

“These projects, once completed, will make a significant improvement in flood mitigation for these regional centres.” 

 Mr Seeney said business cases are due on December 17, 2012 with announcements of successful projects early in the New Year.

Shortlisted projects

Resource Community Building Fund ($10 million available) 

·         Roma Sewerage Augmentation Project – Maranoa Regional Council

·         Miles Water, Sewerage and Recycled Water Scheme Stage 1 – Western Downs Regional Council

·         Theodore Sewerage Treatment Plant – Banana Shire Council

·         Chinchilla Washdown Bay - Western Downs Regional Council

·         Maranoa Water Supply Project - Maranoa Regional Council

·         Dysart Medical Centre – Isaac Regional Council

·         Winfields Road Landfill Upgrade - Western Downs Regional Council 

Roads to Resources ($40 million available) 

·         Belyando Estate, Moranbah - Flood Free Access -Belyando Estate Q50 Bridge – Isaac Regional Council

·         Fairymeadow Road Seal Widening - Western Downs Regional Council

·         Goombi Fairymeadow Road Seal Widening - Western Downs Regional Council

·         Bennetts School Road Sealing - Western Downs Regional Council

·         Upgrade Eidsvold Theodore Road - Banana Shire Council

·         Wallumbilla North Bitumen Seal - Maranoa Regional Council

·         Weranga North Road Upgrade - Western Downs Regional Council

·         Mary Road Upgrade - Western Downs Regional Council

·         Joseph Road Upgrade - Western Downs Regional Council

·         Bowen Developmental Road - Collinsville to Bowen – Whitsunday Regional Council

·         Beelbee Road Sealing - Western Downs Regional Council 

Floodplain Security Scheme ($10 million available) 

·         Roma Flood Mitigation Project - Levee Construction – Maranoa Regional Council

·         Nogoa River Rail Bridge Capacity Improvement – Central Highland Regional Council

Note: There are three components to the Royalties for the Regions program – Roads to Resources, Resource Community Building Fund and the Floodplain Security Scheme.  Fourteen regional councils are entitled to apply for funding. The LNP Government will invest $495 million over four years.

[ENDS] 6 November  2012                Media Contact: John Wiseman – 0409 791 281