Far north Qld communities get Blueprint for the Bush funding

Two community projects in far north Queensland will receive a boost under the latest round of Blueprint for the Bush funding, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Main Roads and Local Government Annastacia Palaszczuk said today.

Ms Palaszczuk said the region would share $40,000 in State Government funding for key local community projects.

“The State Government’s Blueprint for the Bush – Strengthening Rural Communities program offers grants to help rural communities develop and implement projects to improve community capacity, access to transport services and the image of rural areas,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Today, I am pleased to announce that far north Queensland communities will receive more than $40,000 through the latest round of the Our Place, Our Future initiative.

“Our Place, Our Future aims to strengthen and enhance the relationships between rural and urban areas, as well as building the networks and support needed to attract and retain skilled workers in the bush.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the successful projects were:

·$20,000 for Cassowary Coast Regional Council to create the Liveable Cassowary Coast Plan to help build and strengthen community capacity through increased skills, knowledge, networks and opportunities, and

·$20,000 for Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre to establish a network of service providers to Indigenous people in Mareeba to address substance abuse.

Member for Cook Jason O’Brien said the Bligh Government was strongly committed to building strong and sustainable communities across rural and remote Queensland.

"One of the major goals of the Blueprint for the Bush is for communities to be viable and strong so it is important that they have access to funding initiatives such as these,” Mr O’Brien said.

"Our ongoing investment through the program helps to deliver practical measures to address rural community development issues, assist effective community engagement and help implement existing community plans."