The Queensland Government is rewarding its resource-gathering communities with the Royalties for the Regions initiative.

Applications for Round 2 of the grants are open now, Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney has announced the expansion of the program in an address in Townsville. The city will be the recipient of pre-committed funding to fix the locally infamous Blakey’s Crossing. Money has also be allocated to repairs of the West Creek Rail Bridge in Toowoomba.

Mr Seeney said Royalties for the Regions had been confined to 14 councils in the initial pilot round, now the government has decided to now extend it to all regional councils supporting the resource sector.

“The main focus of Royalties for the Regions, however, remains on supporting infrastructure projects that respond to the most critical community needs that have resulted from resource sector activity,” Mr Seeney said, “my department will be going out to brief eligible councils on funding priorities and eligibility criteria for this next round over the coming weeks to help ensure councils submit priority projects with the best chance of success... Royalties for the Regions is a $495 million four year initiative to support Queensland’s regions to provide critical community infrastructure, roads and flood mitigation projects.”

The program is seen as a response to repeated calls from regional governments in the State, that the areas which provide the most to State and national economies should see some special benefits.

A list of successful applicants and information on getting involved is available from The Queensland Department of State Planning, Infrastructure and Development's website.