Queensland State Budget
Date: 29-Jun-2017
The 2016-17 Queensland State Budget was delivered this week and includes some boosts to a range of funding programs of interest to local government. A big ticket item in the budget was an extra $175 million for Building Our Regions, including $90 million towards the regional infrastructure program over the next four years.
While the LGAQ’s budget bid for water was not specifically delivered, the need to upgrade vital water and wastewater infrastructure in indigenous communities has been recognised in the budget with funding allocated for the following:
- $4.4 million for operating costs of temporary measures to provide potable water and water security for the Palm Island Community;
- $1.3 million over four years for identified capital renewal and replacement costs of the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council water supply system;
- $14 million over two years for the replacement of Cherbourg wastewater infrastructure;
Projects allocated funding through the $180 million “Significant Regional Infrastructure Projects Program” include:
- $1.8 million for the Pormpuraaw drinking water security project;
- $600,000 for wastewater upgrades in Aurukun Shire council;
- $80,000 for upgrades of drinking water infrastructure in Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council.