Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Desley Boyle
In State Parliament today Local Government Minister Desley Boyle announced the Great Barrier Reef and the residents of Hinchinbrook would be the big winners of upgrades to sewage treatment infrastructure in the region.
“The Bligh Government is providing $6.6 million in new funding to support the upgrades of Dungeness/Lucinda and Ingham sewage treatment infrastructure,” Ms Boyle said.
“This funding will help ensure both plants conform to the State Government’s strict environmental standards,” she said.
“The Ingham plant was constructed in the late 1960s, while Dungeness/Lucinda goes back to the early 1970s. These are two of a number of plants, owned by smaller coastal councils, that discharge into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
“Reef tourism and other activities contribute more than $4 billion to the Queensland economy and employ more than 40,000 people. Protecting the Reef is a responsibility that falls to all of us, including local governments.
“As the cost of these projects would have placed a considerable burden on ratepayers of Hinchinbrook Shire Council, the Bligh Government has stepped in to support the project.
“This is a high priority project and the Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Department of Infrastructure and Planning will be working with Council to ensure this vital piece of infrastructure meets environmental standards.”
Ms Boyle also today announced new funding of $3.6 million to help Whitsunday Regional Council upgrade the Proserpine sewage treatment plant, along with the already committed $1.8 million for Tablelands Regional Council to upgrade the Kuranda sewage treatment plant and related infrastructure.
“The Bligh Government is committed to working in partnership with Councils to deliver infrastructure for tomorrow’s Queensland – infrastructure that will help communities meet the challenges that population growth brings and to protect the environment.
“Importantly these projects will help also support local jobs.”
Ms Boyle said today’s announcement came on top of more than $100 million the Bligh Government is providing Councils across Queensland in 2009-10 to support the upgrade of sewage treatment plants. |
