EVEN BETTER REGIONS ON THE WAY WITH FUNDING FOR 330 NEW REGIONAL PROJECTS

REGIONAL communities throughout Australia will benefit from 330 new infrastructure projects and community initiatives, as part of a $204.3 million investment under Round 3 of the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s highly successful Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government’s investment will help ensure regional Australia remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.

“We have seen fantastic outcomes from the first two rounds of the BBRF and today’s announcement continues that trend with the funding for important infrastructure projects such as the new Rockhampton Art Gallery and the development of the Armstrong Village Integrated Aged Care Complex in Dunsborough,” Mr McCormack said.

“These infrastructure projects will be delivered along with community-building initiatives such as the 2020 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Shepparton and the Naracoorte World Heritage Festival and Fun Run.

“These projects will help build local economies and drive job creation, with more than 13,000 jobs to be supported throughout regional Australia, delivering career pathways and enabling people to stay in the communities they grew up in.

“It is projects such as these that ensure our regions remain strong, resilient and prosperous in the long term and I look forward to seeing these high-quality projects transform their local towns and communities and unlock regional Australia’s economic potential.”

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said this round will provide more than $70 million for building tourism infrastructure in regional Australia, providing a huge boost to the many regional economies that rely on tourism.

“Tourism is such a vital industry for many regional areas with forty-three cents in every tourism dollar now spent in regional Australia,” Mr Birmingham said.

“Tourism infrastructure projects such as the completion of the Great Valley Trail between Bright and Harrietville and the new Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge received funding in this round, enabling these communities to seize tourism opportunities and take full advantage of everything their regions have to offer.

“We promised this fund would support at least $45 million in tourism infrastructure projects but thanks to the high calibre of those who applied we are dramatically exceeding this, with tourism infrastructure across Australia receiving a $70 million boost.

“Through the BBRF, the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government is continuing its long-standing commitment to regional Australia by making vital local projects a reality, creating more jobs and driving economic development across our regional communities.”

For a full list of successful projects, please visit www.business.gov.au/bbrf.