New passenger terminal for Boulia Airport

The Western Queensland town of Boulia will receive a new airport terminal to cater for local residents and a growing number of resource sector workers through the Queensland Government’s $495 million Royalties for the Regions program.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the Queensland Government had committed $405,000 in a 50:50 funding partnership with Boulia Shire Council to upgrade the existing airport terminal.

“Boulia is fast becoming a hub for regional resource projects and current facilities no longer meet passenger demands,” Mr Seeney said.

“A new airport terminal will provide improved facilities and services for the local community as well as the increasing number of fly-in fly-out passengers moving through the airport enroute to regional mining projects.

“Royalties for the Regions was a key election promise and this funding announcement delivers on our commitment to provide better infrastructure.

“It also demonstrates our government’s desire to give back to regional Queenslanders a fair share of the resource royalties earned in their region, ending the years of neglect regional Queensland experienced under Labor.”

Boulia Shire Council’s successful Royalties for the Regions Round 3 application was announced by Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh at Boulia Airport.

“Investing in regional transport infrastructure and supporting economic development are key goals of our government,” Mr McVeigh said.

“The new passenger terminal will include a baggage system, provision for security screening, public toilets and disabled access.

“I look forward to touching down here in the future and using these upgraded facilities.”

Boulia Shire Mayor Rick Britton said the future for Boulia Shire looked bright, with significant oil and gas exploration taking place in the area and tourist numbers continuing to grow.

“Construction of the airport will provide jobs and flow-on benefits to local businesses, which is great news for our region,” Mr Britton said.

“It’s great to have the government working with communities like ours to provide infrastructure that will benefit us locally as well the greater region of Western Queensland now and into the future.”

The Queensland Government will finalise other successful Royalties for the Regions Round 3 applications in coming weeks with more than 23 council projects expected to share in this round’s allocations.

To date more than 39 councils across Queensland have received more than $250 million through Royalties for the Regions for much needed roads, community infrastructure and flood mitigation projects.

For more information visit http://www.qld.gov.au/royalties.

[ENDS] 17 April 2014

Media Contacts:

Deputy Premier – Elizabeth Spry 0418 928 744

Minister McVeigh – Lachlan Millar 0407 394 580