Focus on building strong and resilient Queensland

Published Friday, 27 September, 2019 at 03:41 PM

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Cameron Dick

The portfolio of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning continues to deliver for Queenslanders, with annual reports tabled today showing economic growth, jobs and strong activity across Queensland to support business and communities.

Minister Cameron Dick said the annual reports tabled today show the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to building a resilient, strong Queensland and delivering new jobs across the state.

“In particular, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority annual report details the significant work it has undertaken to ensure Queensland communities have the support they need to recover and rebuild after a disaster, and that they are better prepared for the future,” Mr Dick said.

“During the last disaster season, Queensland experienced 11 separate disaster events resulting in 61 of our 77 local government areas being activated for disaster funding assistance, with recovery and reconstruction costs estimated at $1.3 billion.

“In response, QRA coordinated $2.5 billion in reconstruction works due to natural disaster events in 2016-17 to 2018-19 and managed 930 active submissions for disasterrecovery funding, delivering $520 million to councils and state agencies for reconstruction works, supporting more than 1300 jobs.

Mr Dick said that the Annual Report of the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning showed that the Department had enabled $1.129 billion in capital investment and the creation of 2902 jobs through the department’s industry and investment facilitation program.

“In the infrastructure portfolio, the Department has helped drive a near-zero underspend in the capital program across government – the best performance in a decade.

“We have also completed 12 detailed business cases in 2018—2019, a new record, which is shown in the annual report for Building Queensland”

Mr Dick said that the Gasfields Commission and Southbank Corporation continue to achieve results for Queensland, reflected in their annual reports.

“Southbank is now seeing 14 million visitors a year and is underway to deliver an additional 7000 square metres of new greenspace through the Riverside Open space project.

“The Gasfields Commission has also helped bring landholders and resource companies together with new and effective communication and information tools.

Portfolio annual reports can be access from the agency websites (www.dsdmip.qld.gov.au; www.qra.qld.gov.au; gasfieldscommissionqld.org.au; southbankcorporation.com.au)

ENDS

Media contact: Lesley Major 0419 288 284