Prime Minister announces $130 million for Rookwood Weir
Published on 26 May 2016
Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce have today announced $130 million in funding for the development of Rookwood Weir with the State Government funding 50 percent of the $260 million project.
The Prime Minister made the announcement at a local sweet potato farm outside of Rockhampton this morning.
Rockhampton Region Mayor Strelow said she is delighted in the announcement that dovetails with Council's clear economic direction.
“We have been major players in the push for this Weir for a decade now and we have been significant partners in the Regional studies around agricultural opportunities,” Mayor Strelow said.
“We are currently advertising for a dedicated position to ensure that agribusiness and small crops growing is a stronger and continuing part of our future.”
Mayor Margaret Strelow's visit to Singapore late last year resulted in return visits from key Singaporean representatives who Mayor Strelow says are all part of a cohesive and vital story for our economic growth.
“It just makes sense for us to make use of both the water in the Fitzroy and our warm climate to grow more small crops and to grow our beef industry,” she said.
“Of course there is the bigger story around use of our critical assets, such as the airport, but it is also a story around providing high-quality local food into our own market.
“The more we can meet our own food needs, the more jobs we can provide for university students and transient workers to help at the harvest and the more sustainable our education and tourism sectors will be.
“Don't forget the backpackers are a key part of the labour force for any successful small crops industry.”
Central Queensland is the centrepiece of Mr Turnbull’s $150 million announcement on Queensland dams, with the flow on effects including an additional $1 billion in agriculture production and more than 2100 full time jobs in the agriculture sector.
The construction of Rookwood Weir is expected to create 300 full-time jobs for the Region.