Longreach and Boulia get Building our Regions stat...

Almost $1.5 million will be spent across Longreach and Boulia for regional development projects funded by the state government. 

Longreach has been given $500,000 under the Building our Regions program to construct an extended rail siding at the Longreach saleyards. 

The Longreach Regional Council has kicked in $20,000 for the project, which is anticipated to create eight jobs. 

“Longreach Regional Council has plans to reopen the saleyards in partnership with AAM Investment Group,” Development Minister Cameron Dick said. 

“Extending the rail siding will improve efficiency for loading and unloading cattle on to trains and is an important part of the saleyards expansion and modernisation."

Longreach Mayor Ed Warren said the new rail siding could increase the throughput of the saleyards by 20 per cent, meaning as many as 120,000 cattle could pass through the revamped facility each year.

Boulia will use $994,800 from the Building our Regions program to help develop an industrial estate in the town. 

“The new industrial estate will focus on servicing this traffic, especially long-haul transport, providing layover facilities and service opportunities, with five jobs to be supported during construction," Mr Dick said. 

Boulia Mayor Rick Britton said the industrial estate would be located on the increasingly busy Outback Way road, giving good visibility to local businesses selling goods and services such as tyres, fuel and repairs. 

The story Longreach and Boulia benefit from regional funding first appeared on Queensland Country Life.