Karumba's award-winning Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre, opened last year, is set to expand its tourism capacity and create additional visitor experiences, thanks to state government Building our Regions funding.
A project to deliver an entertainment area on the saltwater lagoon at the centre, which will also attract music performances and be a centrepiece for the annual Karumba Barra and Blues Festival and Anglers Classic, was one of 48 construction and planning projects across the state announced in round five of the program last week.
It has attracted $250,000 and project works involve installation of three flat-deck pontoons and a shade structure over the centre's existing outdoor deck, and create employment for one person.
This round of funding will generate an estimated 347 jobs in partnership with 39 councils across the state.
Other northern shires to benefit include the Cook, Etheridge, Flinders and Mareeba shires plus the Mount Isa City Council.
In the Cook shire, $956,000 will help deliver essential upgrades to Coen Airport facilities to ensure the remote service centre for Cape York continues to support connectivity and disaster preparedness of the region.
Project works include upgrades to the airport operations office, accommodation house, pilots' rest quarters, shared amenities, mechanics shed and security fencing.
The airport's sole power source will also be upgraded with new solar panels and a clean energy generator.
The Etheridge Shire has received half a million dollars to upgrade Georgetown's visitor information centre, Terrestrial, to enhance visitor experiences and promote the centre as a gateway to nearby tourist attractions.
Project works include extending the centre by enclosing and repurposing 352 square metres of floor space and installing a café and theatre, lift and staircase, amenities, air conditioning, solar panels, roof insulation, external decorative cladding, and interactive and static displays.
The total cost of the project is $1,845,750 and it will employ six people.
The revitalisation of the 1952-vintage swimming pool in Hughenden will benefit from $550,000 under the BoR program.
It will enable the Flinders Shire Council to replace the existing plant room and associated infrastructure including plumbing and electrical, filtration, saltwater chlorination system and new heating.
As the only pool in the shire, upgrades will mean the facility can open for more months of the year.
Some $450,000 will be used by the Mareeba Shire Council to replace Chillagoe's aged drinking water reservoirs with a single new reservoir with larger water storage capacity to support economic growth in the region.
The project will replace two steel reservoirs that are past their useful life with a single concrete reservoir increasing capacity from 380KL to 500KL.
The total cost of the project is $900,000.
A $3.756m bonanza will go towards the $5.111m redevelopment of the Mount Isa Family Fun Precinct and create 17 jobs.
Described as increasing usability, functionality and appeal of the multi-use recreational venue, project works include installation of large shade structures, soft fall flooring, upgraded lighting, new park furniture, outdoor exercise equipment, walking and cycle paths, drought-tolerant landscaping, upgraded security fencing, and fit-out of a first aid and lifeguard room.
A variety of other projects have been funded around the state:
- Banana Shire Council - Biloela Industrial Estate, stage 3 - $1.8m
- Barcaldine Regional Council - Globe Precinct tourist lookout - $1.5m
- Blackall-Tambo Regional Council - Blackall-Tambo internet project stage 3 - $200,000
- Blackall Tambo Regional Council - Tambo Trucking Heritage Building - $455,000
- Central Highlands Regional Council - Emerald Airport terminal redevelopment - $2.14m
- Central Highlands Regional Council - Yamala Enterprise Area water infrastructure and design study - $290,000
- Livingstone Shire Council - Yeppoon sewerage treatment plant sustainable energy project - $2.81m
- Livingstone Shire Council - Causeway Lake revitalisation business case - $300,000
- Maranoa Regional Council - Bassett Park racing stable expansion - $466,000
- Maranoa Regional Council - Big Rig expansion - $1.628m
- Murweh Shire Council - Charleville gym expansion - $200,000
- Murweh Shire Council - Morven freight hub truck wash - $875,000
- North Burnett Regional Council - RM Williams Learning Centre bush tucker trail and sewerage upgrade - $513,000
- Paroo Shire Council - Digital connectivity project, stage two - $600,000
- Rockhampton Regional Council - North Rockhampton flood backflow prevention - $871,000
- Scenic Rim Regional Council - Beaudesert Town Centre revitalisation - $3.75m
- Southern Downs Regional Council - Warwick saleyards truck wash - $500,000
- Toowoomba Regional Council - Queen's Park revitalisation - $2.793m
- Western Downs Regional Council - Tara Lagoon parklands development - $2.4m