Infrastructure boost to help COVID recovery

Redland City Council is forging ahead with the city’s COVID recovery, with work underway or upcoming on a raft of projects funded by the second phase of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the projects were part of more than $5.3 million to be invested in local community infrastructure under the LRCI extension program this year.

“Council has been successful in securing significant stimulus funding from the Australian Government to increase infrastructure investment and support the local and regional economy as we work to ensure a swift recovery from the impact of the pandemic,” Cr Williams said.

“This is over and above Council’s own stimulus spending program, so it’s a very welcome injection indeed. It means we can now improve community facilities from parks to roads that are additional to what we had planned to undertake using Council’s resources.

“Wherever possible we will be using local businesses and suppliers to continue our support of the local economy and to keep people in jobs and create new employment opportunities.”

Cr Williams said the latest round of projects would include a focus on parks with more than $920,000 of work to be done at Victoria Point’s Les Moore Park; $471,000 for playgrounds and BMX track upgrades at EGW Woods Park in Wellington Point; $357,000 for Valantine Road Park in Alexandra Hills; and $214,000 for Jackson Oval on Russell Island.

“We will also be improving disability access at the Redland Performing Art Centre (RPAC) by installing automatic entry doors to make it easier for less mobile patrons to use this very popular community hub,” Cr Williams said.

“Meanwhile, the Judy Holt Sportsfield in Birkdale will benefit from a significant $1.3 million upgrade which will include renewing and extending the existing carpark while adding lighting.

“Later in the year, two Redlands Coast pedestrian bridges will be replaced under this program – with $500,000 in funding for the Fellmonger Park pedestrian bridge at Ormiston and $800,000 for the Anita Street pedestrian bridge in Redland Bay.

“The program also includes more than $600,000 in funding toward the ongoing green-sealing of roads on Macleay and Russell islands; and also a further $100,000 for facility upgrades at the IndigiScapes centre in Capalaba.

“These are all projects that were outside of our capital program for the year so it is a massive benefit for our community.”

The Australian Government has committed $5.3 million to works in Redlands City under the LRCI Program Phase 2.