Deputy Premier Paul Lucas and Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan arrived unannounced to the Curry and pledged $4.2 million to local infrastructure projects.

The shire's mayor Andrew Daniels said the visit was "a big surprise and a very welcome surprise".

"Betty showed up with $1.8 million for the water treatment plant we didn't know about, and $2.4 million for the community precinct," Councillor Daniels said.

"You don't get many days like that in council. Usually it's a lot of begging and pleading.

"They should have [state elections] every six months."

Cr Daniels said the funding would allow council to build a new water treatment cell.

"It means we'll have three cells so we'll be able to produce more potable water," he said.

Mrs Kiernan said when complete the upgraded plant would mean water piped to Cloncurry could be demineralised.

Mrs Kiernan also pledged $2.4 million to the Cloncurry Community Precinct project.

The State Government had already contributed more than $1 million to the $9.3 million project which is on track to be finished by mid-year.