The Federal Government has announced a $1.8 billion boost for road and community projects through local governments across Australia.

It includes a new $500 million Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program and the bringing forward of $1.3 billion of the 2020-21 Financial Assistance Grant payment.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said local governments were playing a critical role in responding to the impacts of COVID‑19.

“Our funding boost will help councils accelerate priority projects that will employ locally and support local business and also stimulating our economy,” he said.

“These projects will cut travel times, make our communities safer and upgrade the facilities we all enjoy while also getting more people into jobs.

“We know this is going to be vital support, particularly for councils that have faced the combined impacts of drought, bushfires and now COVID-19.”

Queensland welcomes $101m boost

Queensland councils stand to receive more than $101 million in new money under the Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program, according to Local Government Association of Queensland President Mark Jamieson.

“We thank the Federal Government for listening to Queensland councils and their counterparts across the country and delivering much-needed stimulus at this critical time,” he said.

“This demonstrates the responsiveness of the Commonwealth as well as the power of councils to advocate on behalf of their communities.”

Cr Jamieson said councils had been wearing significant revenue losses due to the pandemic and the impacts of the national public health directions.

At the same time, they had also been providing support and stimulus to vulnerable businesses and households.

“The decision of the Commonwealth to also bring forward Financial Assistance Grant funding is welcome and will bring much-needed certainty as ouncils frame their budgets,” Cr Jamieson said.

Guidelines for the Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program will be provided directly to local governments by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

Each council’s share of funding has been calculated in a similar way to how the Roads to Recovery Program and the road component of the Financial Assistance Grants works.

This formula takes into consideration road length and population and is based on recommendations of Local Government Grants Commissions.

Councils will be able to select eligible projects to be funded in their community according to priorities at the local level.

The Queensland Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program allocations include:

Aurukun Council $53,749
Balonne Shire Council $1,141,450
Banana Shire Council $1,808,133
Barcaldine Regional Council $1,291,666
Barcoo Shire Council $710,542
Blackall-Tambo Regional Council $808,346
Boulia Shire Council $568,456

Brisbane City Council $11,710,003
Bulloo Shire Council $848,921
Bundaberg Regional Council $2,014,577
Burdekin Shire Council $620,261
Burke Shire Council $305,861
Cairns Regional Council $1,830,518
Carpentaria Shire Council $711,924
Cassowary Coast Regional Council $739,286

Central Highlands Regional Council $2,165,138
Charters Towers Regional Council $1,706,358
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council $39,849
Cloncurry Shire Council $692,019
Cook Shire Council $1,278,916
Croydon Shire Council $464,921
Diamantina Shire Council $453,393
Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council $59,500
Douglas Shire Council $274,337
Etheridge Shire Council $758,556

Flinders Shire Council $858,755
Fraser Coast Regional Council $1,912,057
Gladstone Regional Council $1,609,377
City of Gold Coast $5,919,014
Goondiwindi Regional Council $1,139,053
Gympie Regional Council $1,361,802
Hinchinbrook Shire Council $378,323
Hope Vale Aboriginal Council $63,728
Ipswich City Council $2,327,860
Isaac Regional Council $1,546,389

Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council $157,431
Livingstone Shire Council $906,477
Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council $80,743
Lockyer Valley Regional Council $927,079
Logan City Council $3,487,130 Longreach Regional Council $1,196,175
Mackay Regional Council $1,956,590
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council $26,740
Maranoa Regional Council $2,576,007
Mareeba Shire Council $1,149,665

McKinlay Shire Council $700,484
Moreton Bay Regional Council $5,003,061
Mornington Shire Council $76,418
Mount Isa City Council $1,009,519
Murweh Shire Council $1,216,089
Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council $81,455
Noosa Council $790,346
North Burnett Regional Council $1,851,438
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council $177,442
Palm Island Aboriginal Council $36,368
Paroo Shire Council $973,400
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council $246,944

Quilpie Shire Council $891,657
Redland City Council $1,692,120
Richmond Shire Council $557,208
Rockhampton Regional Council $1,483,455
Scenic Rim Regional Council $1,089,053
Somerset Regional Council $987,796
South Burnett Regional Council $1,644,465
Southern Downs Regional Council $1,577,341
Sunshine Coast Regional Council $3,653,767
Tablelands Regional Council $979,647

Toowoomba Regional Council $4,092,300
Torres Shire Council $156,288
Torres Strait Island Regional Council $194,288
Townsville City Council $2,230,838
Western Downs Regional Council $3,465,660
Whitsunday Regional Council $1,050,537 Winton Shire Council $1,066,785
Woorabinda Aboriginal Council $31,555
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council $9,956
Yarrabah Community Council $45,250