MAJOR FUNDING BOOST FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS WIDE BAY
Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien has welcomed a $500 million funding boost which will see more road and community infrastructure projects rolled out across Wide Bay, supporting local jobs.
Mr O’Brien said local communities would benefit from the funding provided to Wide Bay councils through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program in the 2022-23 Budget.
“This funding injection gives our Councils greater capacity to prioritise important upgrades to local roads, community halls, playgrounds, parks and sports facilities that will help our communities stay connected, vibrant places to live,” Mr O’Brien said.
“By providing more time for planning and construction, local governments will be able to consider a broader range of priority projects and potentially undertake larger, more complex developments to deliver even greater benefits for the community and more local jobs through construction and local supply chains.”
Councils in Wide Bay will receive the following payment through the Phase 3 extension of the LRCI Program:
- Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council – $39,849
- Fraser Coast Regional Council – $1,912,057
- Gympie Regional Council – $1,361,802
- Noosa Council – $790,346
- South Burnett Regional Council – $1,644,465
- Sunshine Coast Regional Council – $3,653,767
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the quick delivery of projects under the LRCI Program will stimulate local economies.
“This highly successful program has supported an estimated 9,000 jobs and nearly 7,900 individual projects,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Our additional funding brings the total Commonwealth Government commitment to the Local Roads and Community Program to $3 billion.
“Delivering more local road and community infrastructure projects will make our towns and communities stronger and wealthier, and that is why we continue to invest in this vital initiative.”
Assistant Minister for Local Government Kevin Hogan said the program forms part of the Liberal and Nationals commitment to back local councils and their communities through COVID-19 and secure a stronger future out the other side of the pandemic.
“Local councils have been putting in some hard yards supporting their communities through the toughest times of the last few years, so I’m thrilled to be putting even more funding in their hands to help them do that,” Assistant Minister Hogan said.
“This program also 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.”
Councils will be able to access funding through the LRCI Phase 3 extension from July 2023.
For more information on the LRCI Program, visit https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/about/local-initiatives/local-roads-and-community-infrastructure/
