The Queensland budget has allocated $148.5 million in capital grants for councils.

 

The budget also includes:

  • $40 million over three years to assist councils in implementing the recommendations of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry
  • $500,000 for level two flood-mapping of 100 towns
  • $8 million over four years in graffiti removal grants
  • $93.5 million over three years for grants and subsidy programs to improve indigenous communities

 

The budget also allocates $60 million in the first tranche of the $495 million Royalties for the Regions fund.  The Royalties for the Regions program is formed in three funding streams:

  • Resource Community Building Fund – $170 million over four years
  • Roads to Resources – $285 million over four years
  • Floodplain Security Scheme – $40 million over four years.

 

In this year's allocation, $10 million dollars has been earmarked for floodplain mitigation works, $10 million for improved community infrastructure such as sporting, health or education facilities and $40 million for enhancing the safety and capacity of roads.

 

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said another $61 million will be available in the next financial year, increasing to $110 million in the third year from the Royalties for Regions Fund.

 

The Local Government Association of Queensland says the Newman Government’s first Budget contains substantial pain for Queensland councils, with cuts in grants and road building programs, but also gains in the form of funding assistance to help communities in regions impacted by the resources boom maintain their infrastructure.

 

Chief executive Greg Hallam said the Budget would hurt councils and the sector would not escape having to contribute its share of the sacrifice needed to ensure Queensland’s finances were restored to good health. However, he said the LGAQ would insist that funding programs that had been slashed in this budget would be restored to their former state once Queensland’s finances are back in the black.'

 

Mr Hallam said LGAQ would be working doubly hard to ensure a reversal of the deep cuts imposed on the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDs), which will hit maintenance programs for local road networks.

 

The Budget papers reveal the TIDs program has been reduced from $63.3 million last year to $40 million in 2012-13, a cut of 37 percent.

 

Other State Budget measures affecting local government include:

  • Cutting of Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme from $63.3 million last year to $40 million in 2012-13;
  • Cuts of $59.6m over 4 years to the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program;
  • Cessation of Art+Place Grant Program from 2011-12;
  • Savings of $431.2m over 4 years from the abolition of carbon schemes (including Local Government Sustainable Future Fund);
  • Additional funding of $92m this year to deliver rebates of up to $80 per domestic water connection in SEQ;
  • Savings of $287.7 over 4 years by ceasing state employment programs 'which are appropriately the responsibility of the Australian Government';
  • Additional funding of $17.1 m for various agricultural initiatives including Boosting Biosecurity Protection.