Frequently asked questions

The program provides funding for infrastructure in regional areas of Queensland that meet the specific needs of regional communities and supports economic development, including generating jobs.

There are four focused infrastructure initiatives under Building our Regions. The three Building our Regions funds managed by the department with a total of $295 million* funding, are:

1. Regional Capital Fund
2. Royalties for Resource Producing Communities Fund
3. Remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities Fund

* The fourth fund is the existing Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) will continue to provide its additional $150 million in funding over five financial years. Information about TIDS is available from the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Building our Regions Round 4 will provide support for projects that foster enduring economic development and regional growth. The types of infrastructure projects that will be eligible for funding under the three funds include:

• commercial/industrial precincts
• tourism
• water, sewage/wastewater, and waste infrastructure projects where there is a direct economic benefit to an industrial, commercial or tourism development
• alternative/renewable energy
• airports
• logistics/transportation hubs
• marine infrastructure.

Please note that road projects will only be funded by TIDS.

Round 4 projects must commence construction no later than 31 July 2019.

Funding may be withdrawn from projects that have not commenced construction within this timeframe. Building our Regions-supported projects do not have a mandated completion date. If a project is successful, a completion date will be negotiated between the department and the local government and included in the funding agreement.

The Building our Regions program has a regional focus. Funds available through the Regional Capital Fund, the Royalties for Resource Producing Communities Fund and the Remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities Fund are only open to regional local governments, including the non-urban local governments of South East Queensland - Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset regional councils.

Eligible applicants have been allocated to one of the three funds and are eligible only under that fund.

Partnerships are central to delivering the program. Co-contributions required for each fund:

• Regional Capital Fund and Royalties for Resource Producing Communities Fund - under these funds, applications must include a matching financial co-contribution (50/50) from other sources - including local governments, industry, the Australian Government or community groups.
• Remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities Fund - while not mandatory under this fund, applications with financial contributions from local governments, industry, the Australian Government and others (e.g. community groups) will be viewed favourably during assessment.

Eligible applicants will need to ensure that funding being sought for projects falls within the following funding limits:

• Regional Capital Fund - $250,000 to $5 million
• Royalties for Resource Producing Communities Fund - $250,000 to $5 million
• Remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities Fund - $50,000 to $1,000,000.

Yes, if applicants determine that they have more than one critical infrastructure project for their community, they are able to submit more than one application.

Depending on the nature of the project, each applicant would need to apply for its own part of the project, making reference to the connection with other applications submitted and the broader regional benefit.

Alternatively, applicants can partner with other organisations, including other local governments, to seek funding for a mutually beneficial project. However, one council must be the lead applicant and will be responsible for delivering the overall project.

The Maturing the Infrastructure Pipeline Program (MIPP) provides funding to support improved infrastructure planning practices of local governments. It focuses on the planning stages of infrastructure and does not fund the delivery of projects. It is also open to all local governments across Queensland.

MIPP Stage 2 will complement existing grant programs and is considered a precursor to Building our Regions and the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program (LGGSP) and other project delivery programs (state and Commonwealth).

Find out more information on the MIPP.

All applications will be assessed by the department with input from other relevant Queensland Government agencies. Assessments will be made against published criteria. An advisory committee, consisting of senior representatives from agencies, will review the assessment outcomes at business case stage and make recommendations to the Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning for approval.

For more information about the Building our Regions program:

• visit www.dsdmip.qld.gov.au/buildingourregions
• call the program team on 07 3452 7377 or 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
• contact your local regional office.