Funding package boosts communities and workforces

Cairns Regional Council will get $1.5 million for a new water lab. Pic: Peddle Thorp.

Local councils across TNQ will benefit from projects to upgrade their communities thanks to more than $9 million for local infrastructure projects.

A new water testing laboratory for Cairns to provide services for the region, including to remote indigenous communities and construction of a Tablelands education, training and disaster coordination centre are just some of the projects that will be funded through the $60 million Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program.<strike></strike>

<strike></strike>The funding will help councils create jobs and improve living conditions in their communities, with Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt saying the projects would create about 173 full-time jobs in TNQ.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning welcomed the funding, saying the State Government and local governments were happy to work together.

"This is collaboration between the two tiers of government at its best, working for the good of the whole region," Cr Manning said.

The Far North region will benefit from projects including:

  • $1.5 million to Cairns Regional Council for a new water laboratory.
  • $380,000 to Etheridge Shire Council for works to the Charleston Dam Recreational Precinct.
  • $321,000 to Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council for installation of solar panels at 13 council sites.
  • $176,000 to Aurukun Shire Council for refurbishment of the town business centre and improvements to the PCYC Hall roof.
  • $303,000 to Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council to build a new bore and storage tanks.
  • $45,000 to Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council for roads.
  • $204,355 to Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council for upgrades to the council-run store.
  • $180,000 to Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council for solar power on the main council building.
  • $451,000 to Cook Shire Council to upgrade two water reservoirs.
  • $135,000 to Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council to strengthen drainage.
  • $469,000 to Cassowary Coast Regional Council to upgrade the filtration and chlorination facilities as part of the Nyleta Water Supply Scheme.
  • $273,000 to Douglas Shire Council for digitisation of network infrastructure.
  • $1.5 million to Mareeba Shire Council to install new water mains.
  • $2.7million to Tablelands Regional Council for construction of a state-of-the-art community education, training and disaster coordination centre in Atherton.
  • Torres Shire Council receiving $372,900 for road upgrades.

The Local Government and Grants and Subsidies Program projects must be completed by 30 June 2019.