Budget an absolute boon for region

REGIONAL Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland ( RDA) welcomes the Federal Government’s commitment to the future economic growth of regional Queensland in the 2017 Federal Budget.

The Government is investing almost $ 500 million through the 2017- 18 Budget in regional infrastructure.

This includes boosting the Building Better Regions Fund ( BBRF) by $ 200 million, bringing total funding to $ 497 million over four years. RDA provided assistance to councils and not- for- profits in the first round of BBRF earlier this year, with projects to be announced in coming months.

The BBRF provides rural and regional areas the opportunity to choose their own priority projects.

The Government has also established the Regional Growth Fund, which will include $ 272 million to provide grants for $ 10 million or more for major projects.

We also welcome the announcement the Government has committed to a third round of the Stronger Communities Program, with $ 22.5 million available in 2017- 18.

The Federal Government is also continuing the Regional Development Australia Committee program.

Our RDA will continue to build on our work of developing local jobs, attracting local investment and building economic growth in the Townsville and North West region.

GLENYS SCHUNTNER, CEO, RDA Townsville and

North West Queensland.