The Queensland Government has confirmed $66 million in funding as part of Round 2 of the Residential Activation Fund, to deliver phase 2 of the Gympie Water Treatment Plant upgrade, which includes the construction of pumps, rising mains, filters, disinfection systems and associated infrastructure.
The investment builds on the critical infrastructure projects approved under Round 1 of the RAF, including $36.64 million for Gympie Regional Council to deliver the Gympie Water Resilience and Augmentation Project, as well as $5.4 million for detailed design of Gympie Water Treatment Plant pipelines, pumping stations and storage reservoir.
“In Gympie alone, the Residential Activation Fund is delivering more than $100 million worth of critical trunk infrastructure upgrades and has a big share of more than 155,000 homes that have been unlocked across Queensland, demonstrating exactly what’s possible when government partners with councils, landowners and developers to remove barriers to housing,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie.
Member for Gympie, Tony Perrett said the investment would help unlock thousands of new homes across Gympie and give more families the opportunity to call the region home.
“This is a huge investment in Gympie’s future and a major step towards unlocking more homes for local families,” Mr Perrett said.
“For too long, housing supply has failed to keep pace with the growth of our community, putting more pressure on families trying to find a home.”
Gympie Regional Council Mayor, Glen Hartwig said the investment was critical in ensuring Gympie had the infrastructure it needed to grow and prosper.
“Gympie is known as the town that saved Queensland after the1867 discovery of gold which helped the then colony of Queensland climb out of a severe financial crisis. Today’s announcement is Queensland, via this government, returning the favour,” Mayor Hartwig said.
“This investment through the Queensland Government’s Residential Activation Fund, means our region can provide the infrastructure needs for a growing community – something the council and its community could not otherwise afford to do.
“We’ve already started works at the Jones Hill Sediment Tank Upgrade Project, and this significant investment through this new round will mean we can continue this critical work to replace our ageing treatment plant and associated infrastructure.
“This work is vital to not only address our current needs, but to also boost economic confidence in our region and support our role as a future growth corridor for SEQ.”
The award-winning Residential Activation Fund has now unlocked capacity for more than 155,000 homes statewide, following the announcement of five new projects on the Fraser Coast yesterday.
