Kuranda will benefit from a pump station upgrade after securing $450,000 in funding through Round 4 of the Queensland Government’s successful $295 million Building our Regions (BoR) program.
This funding will be matched by $450,000 from Mareeba Shire Council, bringing the total project funding to $900,000.
Member for Barron River, Craig Crawford, said the pump station works would raise storage capacity at the facility to help reduce runoff into the Great Barrier Reef.
“The pump station is near the Jumrum rainforest walking trail and the upgrade will prevent overflows onto the trail and into Jumrum Creek,” Mr Crawford said.
“Jumrum Creek is in a World Heritage Wet Tropics area and flows to the Great Barrier Reef, so this project will help protect the creek’s ecological balance and reduce risks for fauna and flora in the area.”
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick, said the pump station upgrade was important for one of the jewels of Far North Queensland tourism.
“The local economy depends on tourism, and these upgrades will help sustain the on-average one million visitors Kuranda welcomes each year,” Mr Dick said.
Mareeba Shire Council Mayor, Tom Gilmore, said the pump station upgrade will allow the further development of walking trails in the area.
“We’ll also be sourcing construction materials locally, creating further economic benefits for the area,” Mr Gilmore said.
Round 4 of Building our Regions will see the Queensland Government partner with 37 councils on 49 projects — work which will create an estimated 657 jobs.
In previous rounds, the program has allocated $225 million to 174 critical infrastructure projects across Queensland, generating 1762 jobs and attracting additional investment of $353.5 million from councils and other organisations.
