North and Far North tourism infrastructure gets a boost

A new tourism infrastructure fund is set to strengthen Queensland's northern tourism industry in the wake of this summer's tropical low flood event.

The $4 million Building Resilient Tourism Infrastructure Fund: North Queensland Tropical Low (BRTINQ) will provide grants between $30,000 to $250,000 to eligible tourism businesses for infrastructure improvements and to address flood and other disaster risks.

Grants are aimed at supporting innovative engineering solutions such as levees, retaining walls and alternative power sources that will make sure operators are better prepared for the next severe weather event.

The initiative is funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and is a key component of the $6.43 million Tourism Recovery and Resilience Package, part of a broader $26.23 million small business and tourism recovery package announced in April.

Tourism operators throughout north and Far North Queensland took a major hit during the tropical low flooding that hammered the region from late January through February.

The disaster sadly saw a grinding halt to what was shaping up as a bumper summer season for tourism operators.

Many premises were badly damaged, and the economic impacts of lost income due to a crash in visitation has been devastating for the industry.

Tourism is one of the key economic pillars of northern Queensland, a region offering some of Australia's most iconic tourism experiences thanks to natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.

The BRTINQ is a practical, on-the-ground boost that will help businesses get back on track, protect local jobs, and restore confidence in the visitor economy.

As well as supporting immediate recovery from this year's flooding, the fund will ensure broader resilience growth across the region's tourism industry and communities. 

Applications are open until 31 July 2025, with projects to be completed by 31 March 2027.

Eligible businesses in the local government areas of Burdekin, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, and Townsville are invited to apply, with the fund administered by Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.