The federal government has announced a $300 million cash boost for infrastructure upgrades in rural and regional areas that will generate around 9,900 new job vacancies.
As part of the latest round of the Building Better Regions Fund, 298 new infrastructure projects will commence across Australia to help regional tourism up its game.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the government was working to ensure Australia’s regional communities could remain profitable into the future.
“Funding the infrastructure and services that regional and remote communities need for the future will help them rebound strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic,” Mr Joyce said.
“This additional funding will support more projects, more jobs and create more economic opportunities and jobs in our regions to drive their recovery.”
Rural and regional Australia has been particularly hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic as lockdowns have prevented rural weekend getaways and international border closures have brought seasonal worker programs to a screaming halt.
Almost half of the $300 million committed to the latest round of the RBRF program will go towards 81 shovel-ready tourism-specific infrastructure upgrades in regional Australia.
The remaining $175 million will go towards other renewal projects in rural areas, including:
Mr Joyce said tourism would form vital component of regional Australia’s economic recovery moving forward.
“Investing in tourism will protect existing jobs and create new ones, while positioning regional towns and economies to capitalise on Australia’s post-Covid recovery as borders reopen and people start travelling again,” the deputy PM said.
“Our infrastructure and community investments will ensure our regions remain great places to live and visit, while enabling them to continue supporting important regional industries which create jobs.
“We are providing local businesses, industries and families with opportunities to get ahead.”
