Queensland invests $200M into Building Acceleration Fund

The Queensland Government has revealed a $200 million catalytic infrastructure program, the Building Acceleration Fund, to help mend economically and generate jobs.

The Building Acceleration Fund will work in collaboration with councils, property developers and industry to fast track projects that unlock development, growing construction activity and supporting long-term employment.

Treasurer and Infrastructure and Planning Minister Cameron Dick said funding catalytic infrastructure generates jobs in the short term and unlocks private investment in the long term.

“Post COVID-19 infrastructure investment will play a critical role in facilitating economic recovery,” Dick said.

“It is important that we are leveraging the capacity of the private sector to stimulate the economy and encourage job growth.

“We know the key to recover and increasing government revenue is getting Queenslanders working again, and catalytic programs like the Building Acceleration Fund are proven to deliver results.

“A similar program in 2017 delivered $3 of private sector investment for every $1 from the government and delivered hundreds of jobs.”

State Development Minister Kate Jones said applications for funding through the Building Acceleration Fund would open soon for projects ready to commence construction within 12 months of funding approval, that demonstrate substantial flow-on economic benefits to local communities.

“We’re putting the pedal to the medal to fast track Queensland’s economic recovery,” Jones said.

“Big projects that will create thousands of jobs over the next five years – that’s what we’re targeting with today’s cash injection.

“Co-investment funding will be provided for successful projects as an interest-free loan so they can start construction now and repay over 15 years.

“The proponent must also co-invest 10 to 50 percent of the total infrastructure project cost, depending on the scale of the project.”

Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council Chris Mountford said that the fund was crucial and had distinctive job creating potential that would help Queensland bounce back from the impact of COVID-19.

“This catalytic infrastructure fund will not only provide an immediate stimulus injection in the form of jobs, it will also serve as a powerful economic multiplier by unlocking private sector investment long term,” Mountford said.

“Trunk infrastructure is costly to provide and often presents a significant barrier to the delivery of new development.

“Many worthwhile projects get delayed or scrapped as supplying the initial trunk infrastructure is too expensive, making projects unviable.

“This fund has the potential to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars of private investment, creating much-needed jobs for Queenslanders.”

Lendlease Qld Head of Development Guy Gibson said supporting infrastructure for communities like Yarrabilba is vital to properly accommodating the continued growth of the region.

“Today’s announcement is an important milestone in ensuring that these major projects will continue to be well planned and appropriately serviced,” Gibson said.