$88 million for remote Queensland airstrips, ports

The federal and Queensland governments have announced $88 million in funding to help Queensland councils repair and upgrade remote airstrips, boat ramps and seaports.

The move under the Crucial Access Links Program is designed to bolster critical infrastructure to safeguard transport linkages and access routes for rural and remote communities, having particular regard for emergency response situations during disasters.

The Program is being funded through efficiencies realised under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, and is being managed by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

The individual projects, which have been identified by the councils through their Regional Resilience Strategies and Local Resilience Action Plans, are:

• Balonne Shire Council: St George Aerodrome upgrade — $557,000
• Bulloo Shire Council: Noccundra Airstrip upgrade — $3.51 million
• Carpentaria Shire Council: Port of Karumba business case — $550,000
• Central Highlands Regional Council: Rolleston Airstrip water supply and firefighting appliances — $300,000
• Douglas Shire Council: Daintree Ferry landing — $8.5 million
• Etheridge Shire Council: Georgetown Airstrip and Sandy Creek upgrade — $3 million
• Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council: Everlina Bridge flood immunity upgrade — $5.43 million
• Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council: Hope Vale Airstrip flood immunity upgrade — $5.13 million
• Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council: Kowanyama Aerodrome infrastructure rehabilitation — $7.95 million
• Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council: Lockhart River chlorine dosing and analysing system and self-bunded fuel storage tank upgrade — $714,000
• Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council: Mapoon Airstrip upgrade — $2 million
• Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council: Northern Peninsula Airport runway upgrade — $18.16 million
• Quilpie Shire Council: Quilpie Airport upgrade — $11.6 million
• Richmond Shire Council: Richmond Airstrip upgrade — $13.1 million
• Torres Strait Island Regional Council: Boigu Island Airport apron upgrade — $7.5 million

“We know Queenslanders in regional areas are resilient and familiar with the impacts of severe weather like tropical cyclones and flooding rains,” said the federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain.

“In response to the increasing severity and frequency of recent disasters we’re ensuring that wherever someone lives they can rely on the crucial infrastructure assets in their area.

“These councils have identified the lessons from challenges that isolation can pose, and we know that strengthening these access points will make it easier for authorities to deliver essential supplies when they’re needed most.