More than $8 million in state funding has been allocated to infrastructure upgrades across four Far North Queensland councils.
Under the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program (LGGSP) 2024–28, the shires of Mareeba, Kowanyama, Croydon and Cook will receive targeted support to upgrade sewerage systems, staff housing, council buildings and disaster resilience facilities.
The largest single allocation – $3.78 million – will go towards Mareeba Shire Council’s $6.3 million upgrade of the Kenneally Road gravity sewer main, a longstanding priority project for the region.
Cook Shire Council has secured $3.27 million for a new Resilience and Learning Hub in Cooktown.
Positioned as a key disaster recovery facility, the hub is intended to strengthen local emergency response and community learning capacity.
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire will receive 90 per cent of its $1.19 million project cost to upgrade council-owned staff accommodation – an issue flagged repeatedly in remote workforce retention efforts.
Croydon Shire Council has secured 60 per cent of funding towards minor works on council properties, including kitchen and bathroom refurbishments and repainting.
The funding is part of the broader $115 million LGGSP pool, open to all 77 Queensland councils.
Projects were selected through a competitive, two-stage process, with a focus on infrastructure that supports long-term sustainability, economic growth and disaster preparedness. Councils are required to provide quarterly reporting and full financial acquittals upon project completion.
The timing of the announcement – just days before the Stage 2 business case deadline – suggests a strategic push by the government to demonstrate responsiveness to rural councils.
