The Queensland Government will invest more than $38.3 million into a range of critical infrastructure projects, including sewer projects, for the far north, downs and south west.
A large portion of funding will go to utility improvements and sewer projects, including:
- Improvements to the Earlville trunk sewer network to cater for residential growth in Cairns
- Upgrades to replace ageing equipment at the wastewater treatment plant in Port Douglas
- Increased sewer capacity to boost residential development in Mareeba
- New bores to secure water supply at Eulo, Wyandra and Yowah, and pipe replacement and a monitoring system to make the sewerage network more reliable in Cunnamulla
Minister for State Developmentand Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham, said the State Government was partnering with councils on fresh projects from Horn Island to Yarrabah.
“Infrastructure projects spark jobs growth and flow-on business opportunities, keeping regional Queensland’s local economies ticking over,” Dr Lynham said.
“Reinvesting royalties in this latest round of our $375 million Building our Regions program will generate almost 440 jobs across 65 projects from Eromanga to Horn Island.”
Statewide, the Building our Regions program has already allocated $156.7 million to 109 critical infrastructure projects across the state, generating more than 1300 jobs and attracting more than $277 million investment from councils and other organisations.
In Far North Queensland, communities from Weipa to Mission Beach have benefited from about 195 jobs and almost $26.5 million already, with 15 projects already completed or underway, and 14 more to start by March 2018.
Other Far North Queensland projects announced include:
- A bulk diesel fuel storage facility to reduce council costs in Aurukun ($140,000 from the State Government; $25,000 from Aurukun Shire Council)
- Landfill capping to protect the health and wellbeing of the Tully community, and increased storage to secure water for South Mission Beach and Wongaling Beach ($2.49 million from the State Government; $3.3 million from Cassowary Coast Regional Council)
- An optic fibre link for reliable internet access in Hope Vale ($500,000 from the State Government; $300,000 from Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council)
- A freshwater pump station to secure water supply on Erub Island ($477,500 from the State Government)
