Miles Doing What Matters: Sustainability boost for remote Queensland regions

• Five of Queensland’s most remote areas will share in $1 million worth of Miles Government funding to assist with their energy transition.
• The funding is being delivered via the Remote Area Boards (RAB) program.
• The RAB program prioritises projects which can enhance economic development, sustain or create employment and improve liveability.

A raft of projects to advance clean energy transitions to a decarbonised and diversified economy in Queensland’s remote regions will take off with backing from the Miles Government’s Remote Area Boards (RAB) program.

Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace has announced the fourth round of projects being supported under the $1 million 2023-25 RAB program.

The RAB program seeks to deliver economic and employment opportunities and improving lives for our most remote Queensland communities.

The focus of this round of funding are projects that will facilitate industry diversification, especially industries identified in the Queensland New-Industry Development Strategy.

Queensland has five RABs, with each region having access to $100,000 a year for two years for approved projects.

The successful projects (and their associated RAB) in this round are:

• South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (SWQROC): $200,000 to engage All Energy Pty Ltd to assist the SWQROC to develop an energy cost reduction, renewables, and Carbon Zero Strategy.
• Central West Remote Area Planning and Development Board: $200,000 to identify and quantify the regional opportunities to adapt to a diversified economy for economic growth and job creation.
• Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Development Zone: $200,000 to explore the region’s current emissions trajectory to 2050, and the interventions that can support an accelerated reduction in emissions to achieve Net Zero emissions.
• Gulf Savannah Development: $200,000 to develop a business case for the sustainable development of the Port of Karumba, a priority project scoped in the 2014 NWQ Strategic Development Study.
• Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance: $200,000 to investigate and progress decarbonisation of Cape York Peninsula and improve the sustainability of Cape York communities through the introduction of alternative energy, farming enterprises and food security.

Quotes attributable to Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace:

“Our RAB funding is bridging the resourcing gap with more populated areas, growing regional investment and creating jobs in remote communities.

“We value the important work being done by the RABs to drive economic growth and improve life in Queensland’s most remote communities.

“This funding means remote regions can get on with the job of rolling out great initiatives that support a sustainable and future-proofed Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Cook Cynthia Lui:

“The Miles government’s RAB program is about opening up development and economic opportunities in remote communities, which I am proud to support.

“Our remote communities have unique needs and challenges, like managing extreme weather and the wet season. 

“The announcement of this funding to the Torres and Cape Indigenous Alliance will support economic development opportunities and enhance our readiness to these events by investing in alternative energy, sustainable farming and food security in the Cape.” 

Further information:

• The Remote Area Boards provide a single voice on strategic issues and economic priorities for the region. They also focus funding on delivering much-needed projects that might not otherwise attract financial support.
• Since 2016, funding has been used for a range of initiatives, including developing tourism products, investment, attracting and retaining regional business and improving industry services. Learn more at https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/regions/economic-development/remote-area-boards.

Media contact: Martin Philip 0407 675 008