Northern communities to benefit from multi-tenant initiative

Services to two northern communities are set to improve thanks to $35,000 in funding through the Queensland Government’s Blueprint for the Bush initiative.

Communities Minister Warren Pitt said funding had been allocated to the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre Association in Ayr and the Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council as part of the Rural Multi-Tenant Service Centres initiative.

Mr Pitt said each organisation would get $17,500 to develop plans to streamline and integrate community services in their area.

“This initiative aims to encourage community-based organisations, local governments and government agencies to co-locate and work together,” he said.

“By combining resources and sharing facilities, we hope to boost the capacity of community-based organisations and to provide a broader range of high-quality services to people in rural and remote areas.”

The Rural Multi-Tenant Service Centres initiative is part of the $30 million Strengthening Rural Communities Strategy, a key component of the government’s Blueprint for the Bush.

Mr Pitt said that under the $5.4 million initiative, multi-tenant service centres would be established in five locations in rural and remote Queensland during the next three years.

“The response to the first funding round was very positive with 19 eligible applications received,” he said.

“The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre Association and the Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council are the first two recipients of funding, while another three locations are still being considered.”

Mr Pitt said further funding of up to $1 million would be available to each location to meet the costs of establishing a combined service centre.

“The Queensland Government is committed to working with community-based organisations to help them tackle common issues and to deliver more efficient and appropriate services to rural and remote communities,” he said.

The Blueprint for the Bush is a 10-year commitment by the Queensland Government to help secure a sustainable and prosperous future for rural and remote communities.

Media contact: Joe Begley, 3235 4280