$11.4 MILLION CASH BOOST FOR WIDE BAY COUNCILS TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE

Wide Bay councils will soon get their share of $1 billion flowing to local governments nationwide to improve local road networks and deliver priority community infrastructure projects, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Mr O’Brien said Wide Bay councils can now start nominating road upgrades or infrastructure projects that will make a real difference to local communities, under the third phase of the Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.

Councils in Wide Bay will receive the following allocations under the program’s third phase:

• Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council will receive $79,698 taking its total LRCI allocation to $181,101.
• Fraser Coast Regional Council will receive $3,824,114 for a total LRCI allocation of $9,815,996.
• Gympie Regional Council will receive $2,723,604 for a total LRCI allocation of $6,371,913.
• Noosa Council will receive $1,580,692 for a total LRCI allocation of $4,366,660
• South Burnett Regional Council will receive $3,288,930 for a total LRCI allocation of $6,884,579.

Mr O’Brien said communities in the Wide Bay region would benefit from more than $11.4 million in phase three and $27.6 million through the LRCI program in total.

“This is a significant investment by the Morrison Government that will help our local governments take priority projects off the wishlist and bring them into reality, and help them create and sustain local jobs in local businesses through local supply chains,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This is another example of our Government continuing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with councils and the communities they serve, delivering the funding needed to stimulate the economy, create jobs in Wide Bay, and build road and community infrastructure that will benefit our local communities well into the future.”

“Every single local job we support makes a huge difference in Wide Bay communities, and I encourage Fraser Coast, Gympie, Noosa, South Burnett and Cherbourg councils to bring forward suitable projects with broad community support so they can deliver the economic and social benefits this funding is designed to support.”

Councils can nominate a broad range of local road projects for funding under the program, such as traffic signs, street lighting, bridges, tunnels, rest areas or even road and sidewalk improvements.

Community infrastructure projects can include upgrading park and play facilities, installing Wi-Fi networks or safety-boosting closed circuit TV, or improving bike and walking paths.

Project nominations are now open, with payments to be made from 3 January 2022. All projects must be completed by 30 June 2023.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the funding injection would help drive local recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 as regions get ready to return to business as usual and reopen to the world.

“This funding will go directly to local governments to deliver some of their priority projects, which will create local jobs and get funding flowing across our regions,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“It will also mean communities will benefit from key community infrastructure projects, and lasting safety and access improvements on our roads, that will have a real impact on the day-to-day lives of residents.

“From sealing rough regional roads and installing safety barriers to upgrading sporting facilities and installing Wi-Fi networks, this program has already been making local projects that communities need and deserve a reality – and I look forward to seeing more get underway thanks to this third phase.”

Assistant Minister for Local Government Kevin Hogan said across all three phases, the program is delivering a total of $2.5 billion to local governments across Australia, with $1.495 billion already out the door and supporting over 6,100 projects nationwide.

“I’m thrilled to be putting even more funding in the hands of local governments to help them deliver even more projects that will support their communities,” Assistant Minister Hogan said.

“This program asks local councils to use local businesses and workforces to deliver their projects where possible and that’s exactly what we have been seeing, meaning these funds continue to flow on to hard-working Aussies, their families, and then back into their communities.

“Shovels can hit the ground on projects as soon as work schedules are approved, so I call on all local councils to work with us to get this funding out the door and benefitting their communities as soon as possible by nominating projects now.”

For more information on the $2.5 billion LRCI Program, including the guidelines and allocations for the $1 billion third phase, visit investment.infrastructure.gov.au/local-roads-and-community-infrastructure.