A City Deal for South-East Queensland involving the Council of Mayors (SEQ) and the Queensland and federal governments is close to being finalised.
The deal has been two years in the making, and when concluded will support the growth of industry and businesses across South-East Queensland and enhance the region’s liveability.
Federal Cities Minister Paul Fletcher said the list of projects and initiatives that will be included in the deal have been refined and that it “is time for the Queensland government to come to the table” to finalise the deal.
“It presents an opportunity for all three levels of government to work together to deliver more local jobs, greater investment, better connectivity and improved liveability across SEQ, from Maroochydore to Toowoomba to Scenic Rim,” Mr Fletcher said.
In related news, the Federal Government has announced funding for three new projects to be funded as part of the Townsville City Deal.
The investment includes:
- $12 million for enabling infrastructure to support the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct – Northern Australia’s first environmentally sustainable, advanced manufacturing, processing and technology estate powered by locally generated renewable energy. This is in addition to a $12 million commitment from the Queensland Government and $4 million from the Townsville City Council;
- $2 million to fully fund a detailed business case for a proposed concert hall, which will guide further funding investment for the project under the Deal; and
- $2 million for a feasibility study into the supply of re-use water for the growing green hydrogen industry in Townsville.
Funding for these projects has been allocated from the Commonwealth’s $195 million commitment to the Haughton Pipeline Stage 2, which is now being delivered by the Queensland Government and Townsville City Council outside the Townsville City Deal.