Bushfire recovery builds bridges in Gympie
Gympie drivers will enjoy safer bridges, with the region sharing in $10.7 million of additional funding for communities impacted by the 2019 Queensland Bushfires, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.
Old bridges like this one at Glastonbury Creek Road west of Gympie are being replaced as a part of the Australian Government’s commitment to helping communities recover from the devastating bushfires last year and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today I was pleased to meet with Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig to announce Gympie Regional Council will receive $630,000 to replace this bridge on Glastonbury Creek Road, $585,000 for a bridge replacement on Ryan Road at Wolvi, and $837,000 to replace a bridge on Widgee Crossing Road, through the final round of the $36.8 million Local Economic Recovery Program.
These three bridges will not only make roads safer for local drivers, it will boost local jobs and help support the Gympie agricultural sector by improving access for primary producers.
Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud announced 21 projects in the final round of the $36.8 million Local Economic Recovery Program (LER).
“The tourism, agricultural and small business sectors have not only had to respond to the bushfires and COVID-19, but many have battled drought over a long period of time as well,” Minister Littleproud said.
“The Australian and Queensland Governments have vowed to support these communities on their recovery journey and we are pleased to provide this funding, which will offer a welcomed economic boost and improve resilience.
“Gympie Regional Council and the Department of Environment and Science have identified key priorities for their communities and are delivering a broad range of economic, resilience, built environment and natural environment initiatives.
“Today’s announcement brings the total projects approved under the $36.8 million Queensland LER program to 48,” he said.
The program is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, and administered by QRA on behalf of the Australian and Queensland Governments.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced $448.5 million to support bushfire recovery earlier this year, with $350 million available for Local Economic Recovery (LER) funding and $98.5 million available for Complementary Projects.
LER funding is being matched by relevant state governments (NSW, VIC, QLD and SA), providing $700 million in total to support community and regional recovery.
The $36.8 million Local Economic Recovery Program for Queensland has now been fully expended.
Learn more about QLD LER projects on the QRA website.
