Gympie sport lovers can now enjoy their competition day and night, after the official opening of the revitalised Albert Park and One Mile sport precinct, funded with $2.19 million from the 2017-19 Works for Queensland Program.
Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe officially opened the precinct by bowling the first ball to Gympie Regional Council Mayor Mick Curran at the start of the day/night cricket match between Gympie Gold and Maroochydore.
"We now have lights for night sports, better fields for football, cricket, soccer and baseball, a club house, and a BMX track, which will benefit everyone in this region," he said.
Mr Hinchliffe was in Gympie to inspect $2.425 million in Works for Queensland projects and officially open the $1.075 million Kilkivan Equestrian Centre.
"I've also seen the fantastic new Rainbow Beach viewing platform, which was funded with $235,000 from the 2017-19 Works for Queensland program and supported several jobs," he said.
Gympie Regional Council was allocated $6.08 million in the 2017-19 Works for Queensland program, which created or supported 104 jobs.
For the next three years, the 2019-21 Works for Queensland allocation for Gympie is $6.16 million, which will create or support 345 jobs.
Mayor Curran thanked the Palaszczuk Government for the ongoing support through the Works for Queensland Program and the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program (LGGSP).
"It is fair to say these projects would not be possible without this funding," he said.
"It shows what is possible when our two levels of government work well together.
"Other notable projects include the Rainbow Beach Our Towns Streetscape and the Gympie Civic Centre upgrade.
"I am looking forward to inviting the Minister back to the region to see these projects when they are completed – both projects will make a dramatic improvement."
Across the three rounds of Works for Queensland, Gympie has been allocated $18.14 million, which has created or supported 483 jobs.
Mr Hinchliffe also officially opened the Kilkivan Equestrian Centre, which was made possible through an allocation of $1.075 million from the 2017-19 LGGSP.
"The centre will serve the community for years, and the work on it created or supported almost 20 jobs.
"It's exactly the type of project the LGGSP helps councils deliver."
Other Palaszczuk Government achievements in Gympie include:
- Investing $4.3 million to construct a new building with four learning areas and two specialist areas at James Nash State High School.
- Delivering an $11.5 million total spend to upgrade intersections of the Bruce Highway north of Gympie (Fleming Road to Fishermans Pocket Road, Chatsworth)
- Investing $2.7 million to replace a school block at One Mile State School
- Supporting 2,200 jobs through a $587.8 million investment in infrastructure and capital works across Wide Bay in 2019-2020.
- Restoring frontline services in Wide Bay, including:
- 191 extra nurses
- 78 extra doctors
- 31 extra teachers
- 71 extra teacher aides
