KENNEDY MP Bob Katter has thanked the Federal Government for supporting the North West with over $15m funding under the Building Better Regions program round five.
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The funding includes $9,736,886 to the Royal Flying Doctors Service to construct a new purpose-built aeromedical facility in Mount Isa and $5,062,500 for Cloncurry Shire Council to build nine new houses in its Perkins Street Housing Project.
Mr Katter said other Councils should look at similar projects to Cloncurry as a housing shortage grips the region.
"I was recently in Malanda on the Atherton Tablelands, and the Lions Club there own 15 units which they rent at an affordable price to pensioners," he said.
"I congratulate them and the Cloncurry Council as these are the types of projects communities need to look at to ensure we have enough housing for everyone.
"However, we need to find a cheaper model for building houses. Currently housing is costing an average of $400,000 when we need to get it under $100,000. Whether it be the materials, the design, or a reduction in the cost of subdivisions, we can and must get the prices down."
Mr Katter said the RFDS project which includes a new hangar, operational rooms, training facilities, bedrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen, would save lives in north west Queensland and train a new generation of frontline health workers.
"The Royal Flying Doctors Service began in Cloncurry in the 1920s, before becoming the national institution it is today," Mr Katter said.
"So, it is good to see investment continuing in the area that kicked it all off."
Other local winners from the fund include Mount Isa 100 Year Celebrations (Mt Isa City Council) - $506,891 contribution to $724,130 project and Get On Board governance training for remote communities of the Gulf (Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd , Normanton) - $16,265 contribution to $20,405 project to deliver board and governance training to three remote communities.
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