Following is a press release of July 14 from Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland, The Honourable Tim Mulherin.
$2 million for rural community building projects
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries, Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin has announced $2 million in funding for projects that improve their regions. Mr Mulherin said the funding is part of Tomorrow’s Regions: the Queensland Government’s Partnership with Regional Communities – the Governments new integrated approach to working with rural and regional communities. The plan also assigns a specific Government Minister to regions across the State to act as a dedicated Government point of contact for local councils and community organisations.
“Tomorrow’s Regions brings together the Blueprint for the Bush initiative and Regional Development Australia (RDA) Committee’s to provide a stronger voice for rural Queensland,” Mr Mulherin said.
“Communities outside Southeast Queensland and major regional centres will be eligible to apply for the funding, to implement projects that improve the economic, social and cultural capacity of their regions. Under the plan funding of up to $10,000 will be available for up to 100 recipients a year for projects in rural communities. That money will be used to fund projects like plans for developing local sporting facilities or strategies to develop local shows or volunteer organisations.”
“Following the recent Queensland Growth Management Summit the Government has committed to a regionalisation plan. We want to help rural and regional communities become places that people want to live, work and raise families and these grants are part of a plan to help make that happen.”
Mr Mulherin said Tomorrow’s Regions also assigns Bligh Government Ministers to specific regional communities to work in partnership with communities, to help achieve the outcomes specific areas want from Government.
“Communities have been vocal about wanting more effective and direct interaction with Ministers,” he said. “This new approach provides an opportunity for Ministers, including myself, to engage directly with communities through recently established RDA Committees.”
The RDA initiative has established 12 committees, made up of representatives from local councils and other local organisations across Queensland to work with all levels of government to address regional issues and to promote regional development.
Tomorrow’s Regions will complement the new Bligh Government Regionalisation Strategy to be released by the end of the year.
Organisations who wish to register their interest in the new funding program should email Blueprint@deedi.qld.gov.au
Minister’s Local Area Allocation
| Area |
Minister |
Minister |
RDA Chair |
| Far North Qld and Torres Strait |
Minister Desley Boyle |
Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk |
Mr Andrew Griffiths |
| Townsville & North West |
Minister Craig Wallace |
Minister Cameron Dick |
Mr Ronald McCullough |
| Mackay/Whitsunday |
Minister Tim Mulherin |
Minister Rachel Nolan |
Mr Darren Woodward |
| Fitzroy & Central West |
Minister Robert Schwarten |
Minister Kate Jones |
Mr William Byrne |
| Wide Bay Burnett & Sunshine Coast |
Treasurer Andrew Fraser |
Minister Neil Roberts |
Mr Grant Maclean & Cr Debbie Blumel |
| Darling Downs & South West |
Minister Stephen Robertson |
Minister Stirling Hinchliffe |
Cr Bill Cahill |
| Ipswich & West Moreton, Logan & Redlands and Gold Coast |
Minister Peter Lawlor |
Minister Karen Struthers |
Hon Dr David Hamill & Prof Max Standage & vacant position TBC |
| Brisbane City and Moreton Bay |
Minister Geoff Wilson |
Minister Phil Reeves |
Mr John Shepley & Mr Neil Hoddinett |
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