Final projects announced through $134.5 million government infrastructure package

JOINT STATEMENT

Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud

Treasurer, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick

North and north-west Queensland communities will benefit from more than $10 million to repair, rebuild and reinforce infrastructure damaged by the 2019 monsoon trough.

The 12 projects represent the final tranche to be approved through the Australian and Queensland governments’ $134.5 million infrastructure package.

Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said a total of 35 councils and two state agencies have shared in funding to deliver 139 projects that build regional resilience throughout Queensland.

“We continue to push ahead with our recovery efforts despite the effects of COVID-19,” Minister Littleproud said.

“This follows years of storms, bushfires and flooding that have severely impacted huge patches of Queensland.

“Strengthening community resilience requires ongoing infrastructure investment, which is why we keep prioritising spending on roads, floodways and drainage.

“Today’s announcement is another boost for the north and north-west of our state.”

Queensland Treasurer and Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) Cameron Dick said in addition to better protecting communities, the infrastructure projects will also create more jobs in the regions.

“We are steadfast in our commitment to make Queensland the most disaster-resilient state in Australia,” Mr Dick said.

“That means building stronger infrastructure and that leads to job creation, two things core to our Unite and Recover economic plan.

“As we continue battling harsh global conditions, it’s critical we’re generating more employment for Queenslanders and their families.

“Doing that while improving safety in regional Queensland is a win-win.”

Betterment projects:

• Burdekin Shire Council
  • Install rock protection along Hodel Road, $83,000
• Cassowary Coast Regional Council
  • Replace existing Blackman Road surface with cement treatment gravel and bitumen seal, $139,000
• Cook Shire Council
  • Replace existing causeways with concrete causeways on two sections of Battlecamp Road, $326,000
• Department of Transport and Main Roads
  • Stabilise and seal section of Richmond-Winton Road, $5 million
• Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Raise the height of Elim Road and install bitumen seal, $1.1 million
• Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Construct concrete causeways along Pascoe Farms Road, $647,000
• Mareeba Shire Council
  • Construct causeway on Fossilbrook Road, $328,000
  • Construct culvert on Shanty Creek Road North, $184,000
  • Construct causeway on Clacherty Road, $45,000
• Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Construct concrete floodways along Pormpuraaw Road and stabilise and seal section, $1.5 million
• Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Construct rock gabion baskets on Bloomfield Falls Road, $545,000

Recreational asset projects:

• Cairns Regional Council
  • Replace gravel on Mount Whitfield Conservation Emergency Access Road and reinstate rock drainage, $67,000

These projects are being delivered through the $242 million exceptional circumstances package jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Delivery of these projects will be rolled out until June 2021.

ENDS

Media contacts:

• Douglas Ferguson 0455 448 985 (Minister Littleproud)
• Ben Doyle 0400 775 561 (Minister Dick)