New aged care and council staff accommodation a boon for Mapoon

Serviced residential aged care accommodation and new council staff living quarters will be constructed in Mapoon thanks to funding from Round 4 of the Palaszczuk Government’s successful $295 million Building our Regions (BoR) program.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said this latest round of BoR will see the state partner with 37 councils on 49 projects.

“This work will deliver vital infrastructure to our communities and will stimulate regional economic growth, while supporting an estimated 657 jobs,” Mr Dick said.

“The Residential Aged Care Facility project and Mapoon Shire Staff Accommodation project are receiving a combined $2 million from BoR, with Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council contributing $120,000 across the two projects.”

Mapoon Ministerial Champion Stirling Hinchliffe said around seven jobs will be supported during construction of the two accommodation facilities.

“The four purpose-designed aged care units are a first for the community and will provide culturally appropriate accommodation services – helping keep Elders in the community and ensuring links with heritage are not lost,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“The serviced units will have access to a shared courtyard area – improving liveability for residents – and will create more certainty in the community regarding the availability of services they may need in the future.

“Meanwhile, the Mapoon Shire Staff Accommodation project will see two new residential buildings constructed: one three-bedroom house and one duplex, with two bedrooms in each unit.

“These accommodations will help council fill new positions it currently can’t recruit for due to a lack of rental options.”

Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Aileen Addo welcomed the Building our Regions funding for the two projects.

“A total of $2 million in Queensland Government support makes a huge difference here,” Ms Addo said.

“Keeping our Elders in the community as they age, along with being able to recruit new council staff with the offer of accommodation, will keep our community strong.”

Under previous rounds, the program has allocated $225 million to 174 critical infrastructure projects across the state, generating 1762 jobs and attracting additional investment of $353.5 million from councils and other organisations.

Learn more about the Building our Regions program.

ENDS

Media contact: Ben Doyle 0400 775 561