Carpentaria Shire Council will receive major funding to strengthen water security and improve resilience in the remote Gulf region.
Residents will soon have a more reliable water supply in all weather conditions, with the Federal Government and Queensland Government allocating funds to duplicate critical water infrastructure in the region.
The funding forms part of a record Betterment resilience investment under the $450 million Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Program (QRRRP), aimed at strengthening disaster resilience across regional Queensland.
The QRRRP is funded through efficiencies achieved under the joint federal-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
The Carpentaria project builds on recent QRRRP announcements in South West Queensland and Winton, bringing the combined value of these projects to $33.8 million.
The duplication works will improve the reliability and quality of domestic water supply while upgrading infrastructure to support future population growth.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, said the project would strengthen community resilience during floods and other natural disasters.
“The Federal Government recognises the importance of having reliable access to essential resources when disasters strike, and ensuring the residents of Normanton and Karumba have a water source they can rely on,” McBain said.
“We are committed to working closely with the Queensland Government to enable significant investment in reconstruction and resilience across the Gulf region.
“Reducing disaster risk, improving preparedness and helping communities adapt to more frequent extreme weather events forms part of our core priorities, and this project demonstrates how we are supporting communities to achieve these goals,” she said.
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery, Ann Leahy, said the raw water main duplication would be a transformational project for the region.
“Year-round access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water is a game changer for residents and visitors who travel to the shire during winter,” Leahy said.
“This is one of several critical water projects being delivered through the QRRRP, strengthening regional water security and improving the reliability of clean water supplies in remote communities.”
