The next phase of the Queensland Government’s Building Our Regions program has been revealed, with local governments soon able to apply for Round 6 of the $70 million fund for regional water and sewage infrastructure and planning projects.
Queensland Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Glenn Butcher, said the funding provided vital support to councils who need financial help to get critical works completed.
“Councils can apply for up to $2 million in funding to support a range of eligible construction and works projects over three years,” Mr Butcher said.
“Small and very small councils will also be able to apply for funding of up to $300,000 for planning of projects that will help determine the right solution to address a water or sewerage service issue.”
Mr Butcher said guidelines for Round 6 were being provided to regional councils so they could assess potential projects to submit for funding when applications open in the coming weeks.
“These projects aren’t just critical right now as we deliver our economic plan to recover from the global COVID-19 pandemic and create jobs, but also for the long-term growth of regional communities around the state,” Mr Butcher said.
“For some of our smaller councils, raising the funds for projects such as sewage infrastructure or water pipeline repairs can be challenging.
“That’s where the Palaszczuk Government is making a real difference for regional communities, by providing funding to get these essential but ‘un-sexy’ projects completed.”
The Building Our Regions program has supported Queensland’s local governments to invest in essential regional infrastructure and create flow-on economic development opportunities and jobs.
Previous rounds of Building Our Regions have seen more than $348 million of funding approved towards 271 projects across 67 council areas.
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President and Sunshine Coast Council Mayor, Mark Jamieson, welcomed the focus on water and wastewater infrastructure in the latest round of the program.
“We have been working closely with the Queensland Government on behalf of our member councils, to find ways to address the infrastructure cliff many rural towns are facing due to aging water and wastewater infrastructure,” Mr Jamieson said.
“This funding represents an important first step in what will be needed to deliver critical water and sewerage upgrades for these communities.”
