McKinlay Shire Council has received $4.547 million as part of a $45 million federal government funding package secured by the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) .
McKinlay Shire Receives $4.547million in Federal Government Funding
North West councils have successfully secured $45 million from the federal government after lengthy negotiations which began with the then-Morrison Government in 2019.
North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) executive director Greg Hoffman said the effort to secure $45 million for 10 Councils across the North West, which were announced by the Albanese government last week, had demonstrated that local government was most effective when lobbying as a united force.
The money will be used to fund a multitude of natural disaster resilience projects across Burke Shire, Carpentaria Shire, Cloncurry Shire, Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire, Etheridge Shire, Flinders Shire, McKinlay Shire, Mount Isa City, Richmond Shire, Boulia Shire.
McKinlay Shire’s allocation of funding will go towards a $3 million upgrade to the Etta Plains Road and $1.547 million to improve the resilience of the Julia Creek Aerodrome.
Improving the resilience of the Julia Creek Aerodrome will support essential services for the growing local community, such as emergency re-supply during disasters when road access is unavailable. The tarmac will be expanded to accommodate more aircraft, ensuring safe and consistent operations for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and private/commercial aircraft during peak periods, as well as providing space for additional aircraft parking.
Upgrading the Etta Plains Road, classified as a local road of regional significance, to a more flood-resilient standard will enhance the growth and resilience of the local and regional agriculture industry and improve road access redundancies in the area.
Road improvement will ensure efficient access for vital supplies, especially given that 600 triples, or 1800 trailers, of supplies will be required annually once the Etta Plains development is completed. Most of this supply access will occur between October and March, aligning with the wet season, further necessitating road access improvements.
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For further information, please contact Cameron Scott - Director of Engineering and Regulatory Services on 0417 769 394