Water funding for regional councils extended permanently

The Palaszczuk Government has once again delivered for regional councils, today announcing permanent funding for the Queensland Water Regional Alliance Program (QWRAP).

QWRAP has received an ongoing funding boost of $2 million per year to help local governments outside South-East Queensland deliver efficient urban water and sewerage services.

Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water Glenn Butcher said the permanent funding boost would give vital support to these local governments to design solutions to their water and sewerage service challenges.

“As I’ve travelled the length and breadth of Queensland this year I have heard time and time again from councils that QWRAP funding makes a real difference in regional communities,” he said.

“We’ve listened and delivered, providing permanent funding certainty and allowing councils to plan ahead.

“This program promotes a regional collaboration approach. This means participating local governments, large, medium and small not only influence ideas, projects and research that benefit their region and industry, but also support each other by sharing staff and resources.

Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Alison Smith said the QWRAP program had been achieving great results across regional and remote Queensland.

“On behalf of our member councils, the LGAQ thanks the State Government for its continuing support,” Ms Smith said.

“This additional funding will ensure even more Queensland communities can benefit from this vital program through regional collaboration and innovation.”

QWRAP is a partnership between the Queensland Government, Local Government Association of Queensland, Qldwater and 66 eligible councils, aimed at improving water and sewerage delivery in regional Queensland.

QWRAP helps the participating local governments – many of which are small or remote – to achieve efficiencies in water and sewerage service delivery by collaborating on projects at regional scale that reflect their local needs.

ENDS

Media contact: Emily Taylor – 0439 273 542