Media Release

Christmas has come early for Kennedy with the announcement by Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter of $11.7 million in funding from Round Two of the National Stronger Regions Funding – with the Kennedy electorate receiving nearly twenty percent of the $63 million allocated across Queensland.

The Council projects to receive grants are:

• Burke Shire Council – Doomadgee to Burketown Fibre Link Project – $2,211,765.00.
• Cassowary Coast Regional Council – Mission Beach Aquatic Facility – $3,490,000.
• Mareeba Shire Council – Mareeba Airport Upgrade Project – $5,000,000.
• Tablelands Regional Council – Upgrade to water supply scheme at Millstream – $1,000,000.

Mr Katter said that these grants dispelled the myth circulated by the major parties that Independents could not achieve great things for their electorates.

“It always amuses me that people say you can’t get anything as an Independent, yet this is the second time I’ve topped Australia in funding grants.

“Whether they give the money out to get rid of me or because of good representation, the fact of the matter is that if you have an Independent Member of Parliament, you often get a hell of a lot more than if you don’t.

“But more than anything, I congratulate the tremendous work done by all of the local Council applicants in securing this money – we should all be deeply appreciative of their efforts.

“They bring much needed dollars and work into our little towns,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter has previously been critical that the National Stronger Regions Fund worked against smaller and rural Councils who couldn’t afford to apply for funding given the requirement to stump up half of the project costs.

But the Government’s announcement that it will allow “remote and very remote” applicants in round three to contribute only one dollar for every three dollars of funding meant that vitally important projects might stand a chance of getting off the ground.

“In my electorate the Croydon Shire Council needs funding for an all-weather Emergency Landing Strip so that the Royal Flying Doctor Service can land.

“The Mornington Council needs a new jetty and Jetty Precinct upgrade, but they too don’t have the resources to put up half of the cost - now both might be able to apply.”

The National Stronger Regions Funding is to provide funding of $1 billion over five years to fund priority infrastructure in regional communities. Local government and incorporated not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply.

Round Three will open for applications on 15 January 2016 and close 5pm on 15 March 2016.

Anyone with queries should contact Mr Katter’s Mount Isa office on (07) 4743 3534.