April 17, 2016
The LNP has promised to reinstate an “enhanced” version of its Royalties For Regions fund – the program which funded more than $20 million of infrastructure in the South Burnett – if it is successful at the next State election.
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said on Sunday an upgraded program would focus on projects “that lead to more investment in the regions, creating economic growth and jobs”.
When it was elected, the Labor Government replaced the LNP’s $495 million Royalties for Regions initiative with the $200 million “Building Our Regions” program.
Mr Springborg said this “smaller, shorter and narrower program” had more than halved investment in critical infrastructure projects and highlighted “a lack of commitment” by Labor to regional development.
However, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk defended her program, citing criticism from the Auditor-General about “lack of documentation of the reasons … for funding many projects over much higher-rated projects” in the original Royalties For Regions fund.
She said the first round of Building Our Regions had invested more than $70 million in 42 projects around Queensland, with an extra $159 million in co-contributions from Councils and other organisations.
Expressions of interest for the $70 million Round 2 were now open until April 29.
“We have listened to the Local Government Association of Queensland. Councils now only initially need to prepare an expression of interest,” the Premier said.
“The Department of State Development will assess these expressions of interest, short-list projects and give councils four weeks to prepare a detailed business case for their project.”
“Assessment will still be rigorous with an advisory committee of eight Directors-General will review DSD’s recommendations before they come to the Minister.”
Mr Springborg said an expanded program from the LNP would “help rural and regional communities become economically sustainable”.
He said the between 2012 and 2015 Royalties for Regions invested in 147 projects with a combined value of more than $790 million.
“The program was designed to be flexible and responsive to emerging local government and regional development priorities,” he said.
“Royalties for Regions was particularly targeted at helping communities to better manage the impacts of resources sector development.”
Mr Springborg said under a new program all projects would need to demonstrate community support and benefits, ongoing viability, value for money and improvements to community infrastructure.
Applications from local governments would be encouraged, but proposals would also be accepted by community leaders and stakeholder groups.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington backed the LNP plan to reinstate an enhanced version of Royalties For Regions.
“Reinstating Royalties for Regions will really help our local communities meet critical infrastructure needs going forward,” she said.
Mrs Frecklington said the original Royalties for Regions had enabled the State Government to fund critical local infrastructure including:
- $10 million for overtaking lanes on the D’Aguilar Highway and Brisbane Valley Highway,
- $10 million for Kingaroy’s Wastewater Treatment Plant,
- $2 million for the South Burnett Rail Trail, and
- $1.5 million for the new intersection on Kingaroy/Barkers Creek Road.
