The Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Development Queensland.
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Friday, February 12, 2010
NEW FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL WEST QLD
Regional development organisations in Central West Queensland (Fitzroy) will be eligible for almost $1M over the next four years to help stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
MP Wayne Wendt on behalf of Minister Mulherin today announced new funding arrangements under the State Government’s 2010-2014 Queensland Regional Development Initiative (QRDI).
“The Government will provide a total of $7.52M in that period to support regional economic development projects,” he said.
“Eligible regional and remote development organisations across all of Queensland can access the funding.
“The Initiative will support economic development projects and activities across six regions.
“RDOs, including those in Fitzroy, will each be able to access a total of $920,000 over the four-year period.
“The Bligh Government has been supporting the excellent work of a number regional and remote area development organisations throughout Queensland.
“Under the new arrangements, five remote area development organisations will share in $2M funding over the next four years.”
The MP said five individual regional development organisations (RDOs) in four regions were funded under the previous arrangements.
“Over the next four years we will make $5.52M available to RDOs across six Queensland regions,” Mr Wendt said.
“This includes two new regions, Wide Bay-Burnett and the Darling Downs-Surat, so we’re now funding six regions and catering to a number of RDOs.
“After consulting with the state’s RDO’s we decided to increase QRDI funding by $1.26M to ensure all Queensland regions have organisations that are eligible to apply.
Mr Wendt said the State Government had also been supporting the excellent work of a number of remote area development organisations in Queensland since 2005.
“I am impressed by range of activities and projects being undertaken by both rural and regional development organisations throughout Queensland,” he said.
“They are working very hard to create economic growth and prosperity for their region and are to be congratulated.
“The State Government wants to provide support to as many as possible.
“An excellent example of QRDI funding is the Building Business Capacity and Employment Project undertaken by Rockhampton Regional Development Ltd and Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd.
“This project connects business in the Rockhampton, Central Queensland and Gladstone regions to opportunities arising from the Federal Government’s stimulus package as well as public and private infrastructure and business projects.”
The MP said the state Government was currently informing all Queensland RDOs of the new funding arrangements and their eligibility to apply.
“We are committed to supporting regional Queensland and have a number of initiatives in place like the QRDI designed to encourage economic growth, create jobs and support local business,” he said.
“I look forward to an excellent response from a wide range of Cairns RDOs and assisting them with a number of exciting projects over the next four years.”
The five remote development organisations to receive $2M over the next four years are the Cape York Peninsula Development Association, Gulf Savannah Development Inc, Mount Isa Townsville Enterprise Zone, Remote Area Promotions and Development and South West Regional Economic Development.
Media: Mark Symons 3239 6530
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