General News
23 June, 2026
Injection of funds to unlock more housing
AN injection of $6.7 million from the State Government will help both the Mareeba Shire and Tablelands Regional Council to boost the capacity of their infrastructure to support population growth and future residential development in the region.
Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie travelled to the Far North recently to announce the funding.
He joined Member for Cook David Kempton and Mareeba Shire Deputy Mayor Lenore Wyatt and local councillors at Atherton Street, Mareeba, to officially turn the sod at the Atherton Street pump station, marking a significant milestone for the region’s housing future.
Funded through Round 1 of the Residential Activation Fund (RAF), the $4.7 million investment will deliver a new pump station at Atherton Street and a rising main upgrade, boosting the sewerage network’s capacity to support population growth and future residential development.
“Housing is not just about houses, it’s about the essential infrastructure that supports communities, including sewerage and water mains,” Mr Kempton said.
“We recognise that councils cannot afford to carry the burden of trunk infrastructure that has been left waiting for upgrades for years.
“This partnership with local councils is set to transform the housing landscape in regional Queensland by delivering critical sewerage upgrades and essential trunk works to support existing and future dwellings, ease housing pressures, and give more of my constituents a place to call home.”
The investment held particular personal significance for Cr Wyatt, whose father worked on the original pump station.
“This upgrade is a proud moment for my family and for our community. It’s all about housing and opening up more homes for our expanding shire and we are incredibly grateful for the Crisafulli Government’s investment to make this possible,” she said.
Mr Bleijie also joined Tablelands Acting Mayor Dave Bilney and Crs Con Spanos and Maree Baade at Peakes Gully, Atherton, to turn the first sod of soil on the planned upgrade of the trunk sewer main.
The grant of more than $2 million will assist the council to deliver a number of critical water and sewer infrastructure projects, including the Malanda High Level Water Booster Pump Station, the Peakes Gully upgrade and design work for future trunk water and sewer infrastructure.
Cr Bilney said Peakes Gully was set to accommodate up to 340 new lots, and the total funding State Government had provided to TRC would unlock just under 1100 lots for new homes, which was quite significant for the Tablelands.
“This is significant infrastructure, and the tip along that we need. The funding will assist council to progress a number of critical water and sewerage projects”, he said.
“Council appreciates the Queensland Government’s recognition that housing supply depends upon enabling infrastructure.”
Mr Bleijie said the Residential Activation Fund was designed to cut through delays and deliver housing supply across the state.
“The Residential Activation Fund is about trunk infrastructure, supply, supply, supply, delivered fast, no matter where you live in Queensland,” he said.
“The investment in Mareeba will unlock approximately 1,200 homes in the area.
“Importantly, at least 50% of the fund’s overall allocation must be invested outside of South-east Queensland, ensuring regional communities like Mareeba share in the benefits.
“You can’t build new homes, without the infrastructure that unlocks new land and the RAF is about accelerating the delivery of critical trunk infrastructure, such as water supply, sewerage, stormwater, and roads – essential foundations for unlocking new residential developments.”
