Industry News

The Business Council of Australia (BCA) has warned that waning productivity and inflating costs are risking Australia’s unprecedented $921 billion pipeline of major investment in resources, energy and economic infrastructure. New research released by the council shows for the first time just how much capital investment is driving the economy.

The Pipeline or Pipe Dream? Securing Australia’s Investment Future report determines how important the effective delivery of major projects is for the economy and how they will shape the future health of the economy and living standards.

“Our research shows that capital project investments are the main show in town in Australia’s economy and will be for some time,” BCA President Tony Shepherd said.

“The story of our massive investment pipeline is really about an economy-wide investment boom, not just a mining boom, but what is clear is this investment is far from assured.

“We are becoming a high-cost and thus high-risk place to invest, and low labour productivity compared to other nations has reduced the competitiveness of our project delivery.

Mr Shepherd said the combination of dropping productivity levels and increasing costs could compromise as much as half of the $921 billion in capital investment.

“What is at stake if we don’t deliver on the pipeline is the opportunity to transform our cities, regions and communities through economic and social infrastructure, job creation, skills development, and growing government revenues to provide quality services to our ageing population. In simple terms, if we cannot deliver the pipeline more efficiently our standard of living will be reduced,” Mr Shepherd said.

Key findings of the study include:

• by 2013 about 30 per cent of all economic activity will depend on the success of capital investments, making us the most investment-intensive economy in the OECD
• Australian resources projects are 40 per cent more expensive to deliver than in the US Gulf Coast
• Australian labour is typically 35 per cent less productive than in the US Gulf Coast for resources projects near cities, and 60 per cent less productive for projects in remote locations
• infrastructure is estimated to cost much more to deliver in Australia than the US, with airports 90 per cent more expensive, hospitals 62 per cent, shopping centres 43 per cent and schools 26 per cent more expensive
• major productivity problems, labour shortages and planning approvals and conditions are all contributing to delays and project costs
• major projects are numerous, with 72 of 160 projects worth more than $1 billion already underway
• the average resources or infrastructure project is worth $1.5 billion, up from $294 million in 2001
• Australia’s largest ever capital project was Pluto stage 1, valued at $14 billion, but there are now nine projects either underway or about to start worth between $14 billion and $43 billion.

Mr Shepherd said the new study has guided the Business Council in developing a package of recommendations to take to next week’s economic forum in Brisbane. These include recommendations to:

• build higher levels of community understanding and acceptance of the importance of growing our economy and population, as well as of individual projects
• ensure a more concerted effort by government to undertake regional economic development in those communities impacted by growth of major projects
• expand Australia’s capacity to deliver multiple capital projects by growing and developing the workforce, and through open and competitive markets for labour, materials and equipment
• improve project delivery efficiency by streamlining and improving planning approvals processes and outcomes, building capabilities for project design, innovation and management while lifting workplace productivity
• support investment and infrastructure delivery by developing growth strategies, improving strategic planning and unleashing private investment into public infrastructure, and developing infrastructure markets coupled with greater private ownership and operation of infrastructure
• build the confidence of investors to risk capital in large, long-term and complex investment projects in Australia by maintaining a predictable policy environment and fiscal stability
• ensure all jurisdictions agree through COAG the importance of consistent approaches by governments to policies and programs to facilitate efficient capital project delivery by businesses
• require the Productivity Commission to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the factors impacting on major project costs and delivery performance in Australia, including what is driving high construction costs.

An overview of the report can be found here 

The full report can be found here

The Federal Government has announced the remaining $45 million funds from the solar Hot Ware Rebate Scheme will be used to support two separate national programs assisting local communities become more energy efficient.

"A new $24 million dollar Local Government Energy Efficiency Program will be established to help local councils install solar or heat pump hot water systems in community facilities," said Mark Dreyfus, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency,” Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus said.

"We want to ensure this program supports local businesses, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and makes buildings and facilities cheaper to run for local government and therefore ratepayers.”

Mr Dreyfus also announced an extra $20.7 million for the Home Energy Saver Scheme to assist low income households across Australia.

Mr Dreyfus said the Federal Government would work closely with councils and industry across Australia to finalise the guidelines for the program. 

The boosted program will give more households access to a No Interest Loan Scheme, delivered through Good Shepherd Microfinance, and ensure solar hot water systems are available along with other energy efficient products.

The Australian Local Government Association has welcomed the move, saying it will assist with local council’s ongoing infrastructure costs.

“Councils across the country will be grateful in receiving this assistance, as it will help to ensure the comfort of community buildings and facilities, subsidize heating costs and ensure the use of efficient sources of energy,” ALGA President Genia McCaffery said.

“All local governments will be eligible to apply for funding under the $24 million Program and costings have been calculated on a 100 per cent take-up by councils.”

“The funding allocation available to each council will be dependent on size and while the guidelines are still being finalised as part of consultations in developing the Program, it’s understood that small and rural councils can apply for $25,000; medium and regional councils can apply for $40,000; and metropolitan and large regional councils can apply for $73,000.”

The Queensland Government has announced it is seeking feedback from the resources sector on the proposal to harmonise the state’s mine safety legislation with other states.

State Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps released a discussion paper inviting industry stakeholders to comment on the model national legislation which aims to harmonise mine safety laws across the country.

“Queensland is currently participating along with other states and the Commonwealth in discussion about the prospects of nationally-consistent mine safety laws. However the process is not without its concerns,” Mr Cripps said. 

“My department is working through the COAG National Mine Safety Framework (NMSF) to ensure any new model laws are at least as effective as Queensland’s current mine safety and health laws.“

However, Mr Cripps said the State Government would refuse to compromise on safety for the sake of harmonisation.

“The question we pose to the resources sector is whether there is any justification for Queensland adopting change for the sake of administrative harmonisation with the national Model Work Health and Safety legislation,” Mr Cripps said.

Industry stakeholders have until Monday 23 July 2012 to provide the State Government with a submission. 

The Queensland Government has announced two new rail corridors to service new and existing coal mines in the Galilee and Bowen Basins. The east-west corridor will see an expansion of the existing QR National network near Moranbah to the central Galilee Basin and will provide links to coal ports of Abbot Point, Dalrymple Bay and Dudgeon Point.

The north-south rail corridor will run along the proposed GVK-Hancock Coal alignment to support the vertically integrated mining operations in the southern Galilee Basin to Abbot Point.

“After exhaustive negotiations with all the mine proponents I believe that the responsible development of the Galilee Basin can be achieved by defining an east-west extension of the QRN network and a north-south corridor to facilitate a new standard gauge line,” Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Jeff Seeney said.

 Mr Seeney told Parliament the two corridors were the only areas in which the State Government was likely to use its powers to compulsorily acquire land for new rail lines.

“The Government will work towards declaring State Development Areas to define these two preferred corridors within which the Government’s powers of compulsory land acquisition can be exercised to bring about our clearly stated policy outcomes of a coordinated approach to railway development.”

For the large, vertically integrated mines proposed for the southern Galilee area the Government will define a corridor that straddles the alignment proposed by GVK-Hancock Coal for a new 500km standard gauge line north to Abbot Point.

The Victorian Minister for Women’s Affairs, Mary Wooldridge, and Minister for Local Government, Jeanette Powell, have addressed the Think Women for Local Government launch at the State Parliament in a bid to promote greater female participation in local government.

“In Victoria there are more women than men but women are under-represented in many areas of local government," Ms Powell said.

"There are 79 Councils in Victoria but only 14 have female CEOs, just 30 per cent of councillors are female and five councils have no female councillors currently sitting.

"We need to do more to assist women to rise to the most senior positions in local government and events like today's are part of an ongoing effort to lift the level of female participation in local government.”

To help address the issue the Victorian Coalition Government has partnered with the Victorian Local Governance Association on the Think Women for Local Government 2012 project.

Victorian teachers and principals have announced they will follow through with their threatened 24-hour statewide strike as a spat over pay with the State Government intensifies.

The Australian Education Union’s Victorian Branch’s members are looking to attain a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) after Premier Ted Baillieu promised to ensure the state’s teachers were the best paid in the country.

However, the AEU says the Victorian Government’s offer of a 2.5 per cent increase per year is an affront to the profession. The AEU claims that Victoria remains the lowest funded state per student.

Researchers at The University of Western Australia will investigate the use of geothermal energy to desalinate groundwater in WA.

Winthrop Professor Klaus Regenauer-Lieb, director of the Western Australian Geothermal Centre of Excellence at UWA, said it was the first phase of a feasibility program to investigate and encourage use of geothermal and waste-heat resources for heat-driven pre-treatment and desalination of brackish and saline water.

Professor Regenauer-Lieb will also present the 2012 George Seddon Lecture at UWA on June 27 on the topic of Australia's first steps towards "Geothermal Cities".

The National Centre of Excellence in Desalination Australia (NCEDA) provided $125,000 funding for the groundwater desalination project.  The Federal Government funds the NCEDA's research activities through its Water for the Future initiative.

Professor Regenauer-Lieb said the project would provide WA government and industry with an economic, technical and market analysis of geothermal energy coupled with water production, and identify areas in the state where the technology may be best applied.

"We will identify the main factors that enable local water supplies to be produced with local renewable energy to help overcome the expense of bringing both water and energy to sites that lack these resources," he said.

"It will also help reduce competition for scarce fresh water resources in those parts of Australia where geothermal energy can be economically used to improve water quality."

The project was driven by a desire to boost water supplies for the Integrated Water Supply Scheme which services Perth and Mandurah by treating brackish water that is currently available but unused, Professor Regenauer-Lieb said.

"This use of geothermal power to desalinate water through multi-effect distillation, preheating and reverse osmosis can also work in regional and remote areas where the cost of water and energy is far higher," he said. 

Based on the need for reasonably priced potable water and electricity from companies based in remote mining areas, the CSIRO, the WA Geothermal Centre of Excellence and representatives of the State Government combined to examine the potential of geothermal resources and symbiotic heat-driven technologies to meet these needs, Professor Regenauer-Lieb said.

The project group includes the Water Corporation, the Department of Water and the Pilbara Cities Office of the Department of Regional Development and Lands.

As well as servicing industry needs, there is also huge potential to assist tourist precincts, smaller towns and Indigenous communities, and larger residential/ commercial operations, according to Professor Regenauer-Lieb.

"For example, Rottnest Island desalinates seawater using wind power but geothermal power can provide base load electricity supplies to tourist precincts because of its 24/7 availability," he said.

Internode Service Provider (ISP) Internode has announced it has doubled the number of its users on the IPv6 platform, joining the world’s four most visited websites - Google, Facebook, YouTube and Yahoo! – as a key participant in World IPv6 Launch Day.

Internode managing director Simon Hackett said he commended IPv6 to websites, manufacturers and Internet Service Providers. “IPv6 is now ready for prime time,” he said.

“During the past five years, Internode has acquired a great deal of understanding from deploying IPv6 on our national and international broadband networks, thereby providing a risk-free pathway for our customers when they use IPv6."

“The most important lesson for Internode is that done right, customers will not even notice the change to IPv6. Internode commends the World IPv6 Launch as the time that website publishers, other Internet Service Providers and all companies manufacturing equipment for Internet access should also enable IPv6 access by default.”

The National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) has unveiled the names of the next round of communities in Northern NSW, the Hunter and the southern part of the Darling Downs in Queensland that will benefit from the rollout of the company’s fixed wireless service.

The service will deliver high-speed broadband and business at speeds eight times that of entry-level ADSL retail services.

"This announcement is tremendous news for these communities, many of which have little or no access to high-speed broadband, or those confined to a limited service, such as dial-up or broadband over the mobile network or older satellite systems,”  NBN Co’s Community Relations Adviser Tony Gibbs said.

"NBN Co’s fixed wireless network is designed to offer internet service providers with wholesale access speeds of up to 12Mbps, with plans for higher speeds to become available in the future.* "To get some perspective, 12Mbps delivered to internet service providers is 150 times faster than retail dial up services, 12 times faster than entry level ABG satellite retail services and 8 times faster than entry level ADSL retail services.”

The communities that will receive the Fixed Wireless Service are:

*Indicates that these areas or parts of these areas are slated to receive fibre. Therefore, the areas surrounding these communities are scheduled to be served by NBN Co’s fixed wireless service. This is an indicative list only and is subject to final radio planning and approvals.

Over a quarter of Australians are either active or ‘lapsed’ intellectual property thieves according to the Intellectual Property Awareness Foundation (IPAF).

Research conducted by the IPAF found that while 63 per cent of us don’t suffer from such online kleptomania, 10 per cent of the population are pathological thieves of online content, while 17 per cent casually dabble in IP theft.

The report also found that 10 per cent are regarded as ‘lapsed’ illegal downloaders. We presume this means that they have returned to their nefarious ways after being put through some Orwellian re-education camp.

The findings come after it emerged that one in every 10 IP thief had stopped downloading pirated films because of the advent of legal alternatives. This comes after results showed that James Cameron’s Avatar has been downloaded over 16 million times. 

Global data specialist Thompson Reuters has announced 12 Australian researchers to receive Citation Awards in recognition of their outstanding contribution to their respective fields of research. In addition to nominating the cohort of excellence, the company has also recognised seven Australian orgaisations for their excellence in innovation.

The country’s 12 most accomplished researchers are:

• ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS – Professor Karl Glazebrook from Swinburne University of Technology
• BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY – Professor Terry Speed from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
• BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION – Dr Jane Edith from The University of Melbourne
• ECOLOGY – Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg from the University of Queensland
• ECONOMICS – Dr Thomas Wiedmann from the CSIRO
• ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES – Dr Shaobin Wang from Curtin University of Technology
• GEOSCIENCES – Professor Kurt Lambeck from the ANU.
• IMMUNOLGY – Professor Fabienne Mackay from Monash University
• NEUROSCIENCE – Professor Greg Stuart from the ANU.
• PLANT SCIENCES – Professor Rana Munns from the CSIRO
• PSYCHOLOGY – Professor Colin MacLeod from the University of Western Australia
• PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH – Dr Evie Lesie from Flinders University 

The Western Australian Govenrment has announced a pilot project in the state’s Wheatbelt region that will aim to turn run-off stormwater into a useable resource.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said the $2 million project, funded through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program, would implement schemes to capture, store and re-use stormwater in selected towns.

“The stormwater re-use pilot project will allow these selected towns to implement well-designed run-off harvesting systems for use on their local amenities, such as parks and sports ovals,” Mr Redman said.

“Many rural communities are faced with an annual dilemma where they can’t afford high-cost scheme water for irrigation in summer, but neither can they allow the grass on their well-utilised and highly valued community sportsgrounds to die.”

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said stormwater capture and re-use would supplement scheme water use to maintain sportsgrounds.

“Community sporting clubs will no longer be purely dependent on scheme water to maintain the grounds, which are a significant source of local identity and pride,” Mr Grylls said.

The project will be delivered by the Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Food.

The two-year pilot project will focus on four or five priority towns. The selection of towns will be based on specific criteria, including an existing stormwater management plan.

The Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA) has hit out at the State Government’s ‘hidden’ Solid Waste Levy increase, describing it as a shameless grab for revenue.

"This Budget measure is not about the environment, it's not about families, it's purely about revenue raising," LGA President Kym McHugh said.

Mayor McHugh said that the rise in the levy would see almost $20 per household in Council rates taken by the State Government.

Mayor McHugh said the LGA had had no confirmation of the actual increase in the levy rate but working from Budget papers was estimating it would rise from the current $35 a tonne in the metropolitan area to $42 a tonne, and from $17.50 a tonne in country areas to $21 a tonne.

"The fact that this announcement has been made after most metropolitan and some Councils have finalised consultation with communities about their budgets will provide an additional challenge to Councils," Mayor McHugh said.

"There is no justification for this increase. Councils and their communities are national leaders in recycling initiatives which have markedly reduced domestic waste to landfill and all sorts of waste management inititaives are already in play.

Latest ABS figures show that GDP, in seasonally adjusted volume terms, grew 1.3% in the March quarter 2012, after a revised increase of 0.6% in the December quarter.

The growth for the quarter was driven by a 1.0% contribution from final consumption expenditure and a 0.9% contribution from business investment. The increases were partially offset by a -0.5% contribution from net exports and -0.1% contribution from dwelling investment.

The industries that drove growth in the March quarter were Mining, Professional, scientific and technical services and Financial and insurance services, each contributing 0.2% to growth in GDP.

The March quarter saw the Terms of trade fall 4.3%. This was reflected in Real gross domestic income, which grew by 0.2% in seasonally adjusted terms for the quarter.

Treasurer Wayne Swan welcomed the ‘stunning’ quarterly growth, saying that the figures show the ‘rock-solid’ economic fundementals of the country.

“This is a remarkable outcome and reaffirms Australia's position as one of the strongest economies in the world, with the Australian economy growing faster than every single major advanced economy in the March quarter. In through the year terms, this result is the fastest growth in over four years, which have been the most turbulent in the global economy since the Great Depression of the 1930s,” Mr Swan said.

Further details can be found in Australian National Accounts: National Income, expenditure and Product (cat. no. 5206.0). 

The Municipal Association of Victoria has announced it has successfully negotiated a revised unit price with the State Government that reflects the cost of Maternal and Child Health services.

The maternal and child health memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the MAV and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Education will run until June 2015 and ensures that the costs will be equally split by the two branches of government.

The $103.7 million State Budget commitment to early childhood development includes $62.7 million over four years for universal MCH services to provide free access to 10 free key age and stage consultations. In response to the Inquiry into Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children, $16.3 million has also been allocated over four years to continue the enhanced maternal and child health service.

Following MAV advocacy, the 2012 - 13 Budget secured an 8 per cent increase in the hourly rate from $83.01 to $89.76 (of which the state pays 50 per cent). DEECD will also increase funding payable each year of the agreement by the rate of indexation approved by the Victorian Government.

24 Mayors and councillors have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to their communities at the Annual Conference of the Shires Association of NSW.

The Mayors and councillors received their Outstanding Service Awards and Emeritus Mayor Awards from the Premier of NSW, Barry O’Farrell, and President of the Shires Association of NSW, Cr Ray Donald, on the first day of the conference held at the Sofitel Wentworth, Sydney.

“Between them the 24 mayors and councillors have dedicated 511 years of service to NSW Local Government – a remarkable feat, deserving of recognition!” said Cr Donald.

Recipients of the Outstanding Service and Emeritus Mayor Awards, in alphabetical order are:

• Cr Ernie Bennett – Kyogle Council – Emeritus Mayor (17 years; Mayor 1997-1998, 2001-08 & 2010-11)
• Cr Paul Braybrooks OAM – Cootamundra Shire Council – Outstanding Service and Emeritus Mayor (21 years; Mayor 1996-2011)
• Cr John Bruce – Berrigan Shire Council – Emeritus mayor (14 years; Mayor 2000-01 & 2004-12)
• Cr Robyn Faber – Narrabri Shire Council – Emeritus Mayor (4 years; 2008-12)
• Cr Graham Falconer – Forbes Shire Council – Outstanding Service (21 years)
• Cr Kevin Ferrier – Walcha Shire Council – Outstanding Service (21 years)
• Cr Nigel Judd OAM – Narraburra Shire Council – Outstanding Service (35 years)
• Cr Bruce Kingham – Blayney Shire Council – Outstanding Service (21 years)
• Cr Clive Linnett OAM AFSM – Central Darling Shire Council – Outstanding Service (21 years)
• Cr Alister Lockhart OAM – Forbes Shire Council – Outstanding Service (22 years)
• Cr John Martin OAM – Singleton Municipal Council – Outstanding Service (40 years)
• Cr Paul Maytom – Leeton Shire Council – Emeritus Mayor (25 years; Mayor 2004-07 & 2008-12)
• Cr Robert Menzies – Coolamon Shire Council – Emeritus Mayor (17 years; Mayor 1999-2012)
• Cr Bruce Miller – Cowra Shire Council – Outstanding Service and Emeritus Mayor (21 years; Mayor 1994-2008)
• Cr Brian Mitsch – Deniliquin Council – Emeritus Mayor (13 years; Mayor 2000-01 & 2009-12)
• Cr Gary Poidevin – Corowa Shire Council – Emeritus Mayor and Service Bar (32 years; Mayor 1995-2002 & 2004-10)
• Cr Joy Schultz – Forbes shire Council – Outstanding Service (21 years)
• Cr Phillip Silver  - Ballina Shire Council  - Emeritus Mayor (10 years; Mayor 2002-12)
• Cr Maurice Simpson – Weddin Shire Council – Emeritus Mayor (17 years; Mayor 1999-2012)
• Cr Peter Speirs OAM – Narraburra Shire Council – Outstanding Service (35 years)
• Cr Ron Sullivan – Coonabarabran Shire Council – Outstanding Service (25 years)
• Cr Susan Taylor – Deniliquin Council – Outstanding Service (20 years)
• Cr Mark Troy – Bellingen Shire Council – Emeritus Mayor (8 years; Mayor 2004-12)
• Cr Graham Wellings – Central Darling Shire Council – Outstanding Service (30 years)

The Melbourne City Council has released the city’s new draft Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) for the final phase of public consideration prior to the Council’s Future Melbourne Committee considering it later this month for adoption.

The Council has described the MSS as the start of a ‘fresh era in Melbourne’s evolution,” saying will serve Melbourne’s cultural and industrial development for the coming decades.

The MSS sets out the guiding urban design and planning principles for the decades ahead.  The plan includes economic, social, cultural and environmental measures that will shape the city over the next 40 years.

“Recognising that Melbourne will become a much bigger and more intensive city, and planning for that change is essential,” the council said in a statement.

The new planning framework focuses on targeted areas of urban renewal, using land more productively, connecting the city with efficient and convenient transport links and building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

“The MSS demonstrates the strategic approach we are taking to secure our vision for Melbourne. We have identified areas that will benefit from development, and we have recognised areas where the existing character will be largely retained. The MSS strikes the right balance,” Lord Mayor Robort Doyle said.

More information can be found here

http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/BuildingandPlanning/FutureGrowth/Pages/FutureGrowth.aspx

The New South Wales Government has announced the release of its Destination 2036 Action Plan, which ‘sets out a new direction for local government in NSW’ and details how councils will deliver services to their communities in the future.

In launching the plna, State Minister for Local Government Don Page said the plan gives gives NSW residents, communities and Councils a clear explanation of how the local government sector will modernise, reform and improve how they function in the next five years, 10 years, and 25 years.

The initiatives identified in the Action Plan are:

• Efficient and effective service delivery in local government,
• Quality governance and leadership in local government,
• Financial sustainability in local government,
• Appropriate, flexible structural models in local government, and
• Strong relationships within local government

“The Destination 2036 Action Plan gives the residents and communities of NSW an insight into how councils will improve the delivery of services to ratepayers and modernise to meet the challenges of a changing world,” Mr Page said.

“As Minister, I am committed to modernising, reforming and ultimately improving the local government sector in NSW because, if we do not, then there will continue to be communities across this State that are `haves’ and `have-nots’, in terms of the number and quality of services delivered to ratepayers.”

The formation of the Action Plan was a result of the Destination 2036 conferenced held in August last year, which was attended by representatives from all 152 councils in NSW.

The Destination 2036 Action Plan was developed jointly by the Chief Executive of the Division of Local Government, and the Presidents of the NSW Local Government Association, the NSW Shires Association, and the Local Government Managers Australia (NSW).

The plan can be found here

The Federal Government has announced a $66.6 million spending package for New South Wales under the second round of the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF).

Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean said the Federal Government will invest $200 million in Round Two of the five-year regional funding program, which builds on the $150 million invested in the first stage.

"The Federal Government is investing $66.6 million in 15 projects across New South Wales with a total value of more than $243 million," Mr Crean said.

"The local communities have responded to the challenge of developing creative proposals that stack up, effectively leverage other funding and sustain the economic and social future of their regions.

"Round Two funding builds on the $150 million distributed to 35 projects through Round One last year, which included $30.87 million for projects in regional New South Wales."

The successful projects in New South Wales are:

• $14.5 million for the Wagga Wagga City Council for the $57.39 million Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub;
• $7 million to the Lake Macquarie City Council for the $50 million Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange Stage 1;
• $5 million to the Wollongong City Council for the $14.92 million Crown Street Mall Refurbishment;
• $5 million to the Tweed Shire Council for the $42 million Arkinstall Park Regional Sports Centre;
• $4.9 million to the Orange City Council for the $13.91 million Orange Airport expansion;
• $4.7 million to the Bombala Shire Council for the $9.47 million Bombala Timber Precinct Infrastructure Project;
• $4.3 million to the Ballina Shire Council for the $8.5 million Ballina Biochar and Waste-to-Energy project;
• $3.5 million to the Albury City Council for the $10.5 million Albury Regional Art Gallery redevelopment;
• $3.5 million to the Dubbo City Council for the $5.3 million Barden Park Regional Centre for Excellence for Athletics;
• $3 million to the Bathurst Regional Council for the $6.07 million Mount Panorama Infrastructure Project;
• $3 million to the Broken Hill City Council for the $8.12 million Broken Hill Heavy Vehicle Bypass Road;
• $2.7 million to the Muswellbrook Shire Council for the $5.71 million Affordable Student Accommodation in the Upper Hunter Project;
• $2.6 million to the Southern Youth and Family Services for the $5.15 million Southern Community Hub and Youth Foyer in Warilla;
• $2.5 million to the Gosford City Council towards the $5.18 million Narara Valley Sporting Precinct; and
• $500,000 to the Deni Play on the Plains Festival for the $911,000 Southern Riverina Regional Event Complex.

The Federal Government has announced Queensland will receive $33.6 million to fund eight projects as part of Round 2 of the Regional Development Australia Fund.

"The Federal Government is investing $33.6 million in eight projects across Queensland with a total value of more than $134 million," Federal Minister for  Regional Australia Simon Crean said.

"The local communities have responded to the challenge of developing creative proposals that stack up, effectively leverage other funding and sustain the economic and social future of their regions.

The projects selected in Queensland are:

• $7.78 million to the Moreton Bay Regional Council towards the $44.89 million The Corso at the Lakes Construction;
• $5 million to the Torres Strait Island Regional Council towards the $24 million Torres Strait Coastal Protection Works;
• $5 million to the Ipswich City Council towards the $15 million Robelle Domain (Stage 2) Parkland Development;
• $4.99 million to the Central Highlands Regional Council towards the $9.98 million Emerald Airport Apron Extension;
• $4.99 million to the Mackay Regional Council towards the $29.10 million Mackay Regional Events Centre;
• $3.40 million to ACT for Kids towards the $4.60 million ACT for Kids Child and Family Centre of Excellence;
• $2 million to Toowoomba Regional Council towards the $5.5 million Toowoomba Regional Arts and Community Centre; and
• $500,000 to the Somerset Regional Council towards the $1 million Kilcoy Showground Facility Development.

The announcement has been met with a mixed reception, with the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) complaining that the majority of the funding is being allocated to towns and coastal cities rather than rural and remote communities.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam said while those communities that attracted funding would be grateful for the Government’s investment, rural and remote Queensland was entitled to be disappointed.

“This is the second time rural and remote communities have largely been passed over for regional development funding under this program,’’ Mr Hallam said.

“The Government seems to have a definition of regional development that excludes large parts of Queensland.’’