Labor’s promised $1.27bn community infrastructure delayed

Work has not started on hundreds of infrastructure upgrades for female change rooms, men’s sheds, parks, cultural and sporting facilities more than 18 months after Labor promised the funds. Search the list of delayed projects.

Playgrounds, parks and oval upgrades are among the hundreds of projects Labor promised that are still awaiting contracts. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Work has not started on hundreds of infrastructure upgrades for female change rooms, men’s sheds, parks, cultural and sporting facilities more than 18 months after Labor promised the funds, with $1.27 billion worth of projects stalled in red tape.

Only 39 of the 454 community upgrades Labor funded across two programs during the 2022 federal election are now under way, while the remainder have not yet been contracted.

The Albanese Government has been accused of “gross incompetence” for failing to get the money from its Investing in Our Communities and Priority Community Infrastructure programs out the door more efficiently, leaving sporting clubs, community groups and local councils likely having to find extra cash to get projects finished due to skyrocketing labour costs and inflation.

The figures provided by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development during Senate Estimates show to date just $28.9m worth of projects have been contracted.

A $3m new splash park for Caboolture north of Brisbane, a $1.5m Hindu Community Hub at The Basin in Victoria, $12.8m for playgrounds, dog parks and community facilities for families living near the new GreenWay precinct in Sydney and a $1m synthetic playing surface for the Forestville Hockey Club in Adelaide are among the 175 projects still “in assessment” by the department, more than a year after the funds were budgeted by Labor.

Upgrades to ovals, lighting, women’s change rooms, disability access and cultural centres across Australia are among a further 174 projects the department is still waiting on information for, while 66 projects are in the “negotiating agreement” phase.

Coalition infrastructure spokeswoman Senator Bridget McKenzie said the number of projects languishing in bureaucracy was a “startling admission of gross incompetence” by the government.

“These are not major infrastructure projects with massive lead times, these are upgrades to sporting facilities, to community hall kitchens, female change rooms … and improvements to community hubs,” she said.

“We are talking about upgrades to Men’s Sheds, improvements to Indigenous and multicultural facilities like Greek, Hindu and Sikh centres.”

Coalition Infrastructure spokeswoman Senator Bridget McKenzie has accused Labor of incompetence over the slow funding. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms McKenzie said even if all the projects are eventually delivered the delays will have pushed up costs.

“Inflation and labour costs have skyrocketed … which means community organisations will have to find more money,” she said.

Community groups and councils invited to apply for grant money after being promised the funding by Labor have until November 30 to submit final information, but there remains no timeline for the assessment or negotiation phases to be completed.

Only seven infrastructure projects have been contracted each in Queensland and NSW, six in Victoria and eight in South Australia.

Across the two grant programs only one project has been contracted in Tasmania, one in the ACT and none in the Northern Territory.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King was contacted for comment, but did not respond by deadline.

QLD PROJECTS ON THE BACKBURNER

‘IN ASSESSMENT’

The Springfield Camira Men’s Shed relocation- $25,000

Centenary Netball Club upgrades – $200,000

Hinterland Community Care expansion – $250,000

AFL Park Ridge Pirates new facilities – $250,000

Underwood Road bus turnaround – $357,500

Ipswich Hockey Grounds upgrade – $500,000

Virginia United Football Club lighting upgrade – $500,000

Upgrade change rooms at Biloela Valleys Rugby/Soccer Club – $600,000

The Labrador Tigers AFL Club upgrades – $900,000

Hammel Park facilities upgrade – $1m

Pine Rivers Netball Association clubhouse redevelopment – $1.5m

Ipswich Basketball court extension – $2m

Stage 3B of the Biloela Raedon Street Industrial Estate – $2m

Boyne Tannum Sharks Football Club clubhouse facilities – $2.5m

Nebo Showgrounds Stage 1 Masterplan Redevelopment – $2.8m

Brisbane Netball Association clubhouse at Bradbury Park – $3m

New clubhouse for the Narangba Eagles Football (Soccer) Club – $3m

New splash park at Centenary Lakes Park in Caboolture – $3m

Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex upgrades – $3.5m

Ipswich Showgrounds upgrade – $4.5m

Electric Vehicle and Energy Training Centre, Central Queensland University – $9m

Aquatic Centre for Boyne Island and Tannum Sands – $15m

North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct – $20m

‘NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT’

Wilbur Street Youth Hub, Logan Central – $840,000

Upgrade of facilities at the Ripley Valley Football Club – $1m

Toombul District Cricket Club Facility Master Plan, main oval lighting upgrade – $1.3m

Police and Community Youth Centre development in Caboolture – $5m

‘AWAITING PROJECT INFO’

Solar panel installation for Brisbane City FC – $10,000

Solar panel installation for Brothers Rugby Club – $10,000

Solar panel installation for Red Hill Bowls Club – $10,000

Solar panel installation for Windsor Royals Baseball – $10,000

Milton Community Garden rebuild following flood – $10,000

Centenary Dolphins Swimming Club Touch Pads – $22,000

Club house for Bulimba Cricket/Hockey – $25,000

St Mark’s Inala Upgrade – $25,000

Redlands Touch Football Association clubhouse upgrades – $30,000

Norths Hockey Club repair of fields following flood – $30,000

Russell Island (BIMSARA) clubhouse upgrades – $40,000

Cairns City Lions AFL digital scoreboard – $40,000

Inspire Youth and Family Services (IYS) improvements – $40,000

Capalaba Bulldogs Soccer Club clubhouse upgrades – $50,000

Redlands Rugby Union Club (Muddies) clubhouse upgrades – $60,000

Capalaba Warriors Rugby League Club lighting upgrades – $90,000

Redlands Parrots Rugby League club lighting upgrades – $90,000

Redlands Rays Baseball Club lighting upgrades – $90,000

Competition level lights or car park for Bardon LaTrobe Football Club – $150,000

Valley District Cricket Club lighting – $150,000

Developing a ¾ oval at the Coorparoo Roos AFC – $200,000

Improving the facilities at the Morningside Panthers AFC – $200,000

Victoria Point Sharks female changerooms – $250,000

Caxton Street road upgrades for parking, traffic and night-time economy – $250,000

Cairns City Lions AFL lighting – $250,000

Phoenix Netball Upgrades at the Ferny Grove facility – $250,000

St Johns Wood Scouts Hall rebuild – $250,000

Up River Road Causeway, Whitsundays – $300,000

Narangba Demons Baseball Club light upgrades – $300,000

Flood recovery and mitigation at Eastern Suburbs Tigers FC – $400,000

Water Play Park, Brisbane – $500,000

South Mitchell Road and Pormpuraaw Road concrete causeway, Kowanyama – $500,000

Improved facilities at Whites Hill Reserve – $575,000

Cullen Point barge ramp rock wall, Mapoon – $600,000

Redeveloping the Spartans basketball facilities at the Clem Jones Centre – $750,000

New CCTV safety cameras, Logan – $800,000

Easts Football Club upgrades – $900,000

Griffiths Park Stage 2 Redevelopment, Cairns – $1.7m

Davies Park Community Space, Brisbane – $2m

Sunnybank Dragon Bridge – $2m

Brothers Rugby Club Facilities Upgrade – $2.5m

Rebuild Caboolture Snakes Rugby League Club – $3m

Springfield Indian Community Centre – $3.5m

Wynnum Wolves Carmichael Park upgrades – $4m

Brighton Foreshore Upgrade – $5m

South Mackay Levee Stage 1 – Pioneer River (Fursden Creek) Levee – $6.1m

Gladstone Regional Indoor Sports Complex – $10m

Dauan and Saibai marine and access infrastructure upgrades – $40m

Originally published as Labor’s promised $1.27bn community infrastructure delayed