Rockhampton Regional Council has today resolved to formally ask the State and Federal Governments to redirect already committed money to the South Rockhampton Flood Levee to other priority projects in the region.
Deputy Mayor Neil Fisher said Council made the tough decision with a heavy heart as, while Council remains committed to the project, there had been no movement from either State or Federal Government to address the $105 million shortfall in construction cost.
“My support and the support of the councillors for the South Rockhampton Flood Levee has never diminished. Today’s resolution clearly shows that Council 100% continues to support the SRFL and we want the other levels of Government to continue to keep it on their infrastructure agenda for our community,” Cr Fisher said.
“However we’re in the unfortunate situation where the project is at a standstill. There is a $105 million shortfall and there has been no mention of additional funding in either the Federal Budget or the State’s Covid Economic Update which had larger projects in it.
“There is currently a $25 million commitment from both other levels of Government and, if the SRFL is not going to proceed in the immediate future, and given the impacts of COVID, Council believes this money could be redirected to other priority projects to support our region.
“We will now formally write to both State and Federal Governments with this request and we will await the response.
“At this point, I’d like to say Council won’t be making any comment on what those other priority projects could be as we don’t want to put the cart before the horse, the first step is to see if the money can be made available.
“I’d also like to thank both Federal Capricornia MP Michelle Landry and Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke for their support of the SRFL and the advocacy they have taken up on behalf of the project.
“We know that the levee is important to both the Ring Road and we’ve seen just today a larger commitment from the state government towards a levee at Bundaberg, so Council remains hopeful this project will come to fruition with all levels of Government working together,” Cr Fisher.
