Federal election 2025: Labor’s $50m pledge for FNQ housing and community infrastructure
The Federal Labor government is bringing its pre-election cash splash to Far North Queensland, announcing $50m in funding allocations for housing and community infrastructure projects.
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The federal Labor government is bringing its pre-election cash splash to the Far North, announcing $50m in funding allocations for housing and community infrastructure projects.
A day after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced $7.2bn to fix the Bruce Hwy, on Tuesday he unveiled 12 Far North projects to receive a share of $49.84m through the Housing Support and Growing Regions programs.
The five housing projects which were allocated funding were all north of Cairns and included $6.5m to facilitate two new residential expansion areas in the north and south of Pormpuraaw, $1.6m to help turn 14 lots into 34 lots at Napranum, $9.9m to deliver 32 fully serviced lots in the remote Indigenous community of Seisia, $5.1m to support a 20-lot social housing development in Bamaga and $1.8m to improve access and provide essential trunk infrastructure to the social housing development in New Mapoon.
The funding is expected to support the delivery of increased social housing supply through the construction of enabling infrastructure and community amenities such as roads, stormwater drainage, earthworks and connection to utilities and comes as the federal government aimed to build 1.2 million new, well-located homes over the next five years, nationally.
Further, seven projects will share in almost $25m from the Growing Regions Program, which provides funding to local government entities and incorporated not-for-profit organisations for community infrastructure projects.
The seven successful Far North projects were: $4m for the Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre, $2m to upgrade the PCYC Cairns facilities, $5m to upgrade the Redlynch Community Sporting Precinct, $2.65m for Stage 2 of the Cultural Knowledge Centre in Dixie for the Olkola People, $1.96m for streetscape beautification and shared cycle and pedestrian paths in Mapoon, $7.49m for a new council administration and community hub for Wujal Wujal and $1.84m for a Digital Services Centre in Hope Vale.
Mr Albanese said the $50m funding was part of his “building Australia’s future” plan.
“These projects mean more houses for more Cairns locals and better community facilities to bring them together,” he said.
“We want to see more social housing and more quality community led infrastructure where people need it most.”
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said she wanted to “make our regions even better places to live, work and play.”
“This builds on our significant investment in Cairns through projects such as the Cairns Water Security Stage 1, CQUniversity and Cairns Marine Project.”
All three of those projects, like many across the country, have been hit by increased costs which could affect how they are ultimately delivered.
All three are seeking additional funding.
Cairns based Labor senator Nita Green said: “The investment announced today shows that our government is listening to the needs of our region and is delivering them.”
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