Another $300,000 for Blueprint initiatives in Gulf communities

The Queensland Government will inject further funding of almost $300,000 into Gulf communities as part of its Blueprint for the Bush.

Communities Minister Warren Pitt and Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan announced the funding while visiting local projects in Carpentaria Shire today.

Mr Pitt said the funding involved:
• $150,000 to Carpentaria Shire Council to develop a coordinated local transport system
• more than $144,000 to Carpentaria Shire for its Reading to Children initiative.

Mrs Kiernan said the transport initiative would receive Rural Service Access funding as a part of the $30 million Strengthening Rural Communities strategy, a key component of the Blueprint for the Bush.

“Funding delivered under this initiative will improve access to essential services such as health care, as well as important community and cultural events in the area,” she said.

“Using the existing Normanton Christian Centre bus, this service will be a lifeline to many residents living in the region who have limited transport options.”

Mr Pitt and Mrs Kiernan also announced funding of $41,806 a year for three years, plus a one-off allocation of $19,150, for the council’s Reading to Children initiative.

A cheque presentation will take place at the Lions Park in Karumba tonight at the end of Mr Pitt’s tour of the local Blueprint initiatives.

“Communities in the Carpentaria area are growing stronger thanks to more than $253,000 in funding as part of the Queensland Government’s Blueprint for the Bush,” Mr Pitt said.

“One year after its launch, the Blueprint for the Bush continues to build momentum and make a positive, lasting impact in the bush.

“As lead agency, the Department of Communities has fostered more than 170 Blueprint for the Bush initiatives, across 22 government agencies — helping to build strong and vibrant communities in rural and regional Queensland.”

Mr Pitt and Mrs Kiernan’s Gulf tour will include a visit to Mutton Hole Conservation Park, where a management plan is now in place thanks to a $15,000 grant to the council from the Blueprint’s Building Rural Links program.

“This community management plan will help protect an area of great cultural and environmental significance, while exploring possibilities for cultural tours which would give the local economy a valuable boost,” Mrs Kiernan said.

They will also attend the Normanton Stingers training oval to congratulate the club for its domestic and family violence prevention campaign titled ‘Domestic violence — it’s not our game’.

The campaign received $20,000 in funding from the Department of Communities and was short-listed for a national award.

“This campaign is a real community effort, involving the Normanton Stingers and representatives of the Normanton Building Safe Communities Action Team,” Mr Pitt said.

“The Stingers football players are leading by example and becoming role models in their community.”

Mr Pitt is visiting areas in north Queensland this week to learn more about 50 regional initiatives, totalling more than $15.6 million in Blueprint for the Bush funding.

“I look forward to hearing more about the vital work that local organisations are doing to achieve the blueprint’s vision for strong rural and regional communities in the Carpentaria Shire at a dinner in Karumba this evening,” Mr Pitt said.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3235 4280 or 0417 789 208
Mrs Kiernan’s Office 4742 2530