$13m infrastructure investment for Torres Strait and Far North Qld
The Queensland Government is to deliver $13.64 million in funding to support the Torres Strait islands and the Far North Queensland community of Hope Vale.
Under Round 2 of the Closing the Gap Priorities Fund, the funding will support five projects addressing water security, critical transport, waste management, and early childhood education services.
On Horn Island, critical upgrades to the local landfill facility to expand capacity will be made, ensuring compliance, and bolstering environmental protections for the Loggy Creek Dam.
Key facts
- Government’s Closing the Gap Priorities Fund delivers more than $13 million for the Torres Strait islands and Hope Vale community.
- Funding supports five new local projects addressing water security, critical transport, waste management, and education services.
- The 2026-27 State Budget committed more than $73 million to deliver 21 new public health and essential infrastructure projects in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland.
The local airport will also receive runway upgrades to improve safety and continuity of essential air services.
Elsewhere in the Torres Strait, the government plans to deliver water infrastructure upgrades to Erub Island to improve supply reliability, reduce losses, and support ongoing desalination capability.
In Hope Vale, the former After School Care facility will be refurbished to deliver a modern kindergarten, which will also support visiting child health service providers. In addition, the government said it will deliver water and sewerage system upgrades to improve health outcomes and living standards.
The 2026-27 State Budget committed more than $73 million through the Closing the Gap Priorities Fund to deliver new public health and essential infrastructure projects in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Other projects already announced include upgrades to the Woorabinda Community Rugby League and Sports Precinct to support broader recreational use, health outcomes, and enable Woorabinda to host regional sport competitions.
The State government said it would also deliver the Cherbourg Landfill Waste Facility Upgrade to protect the Barambah Creek’s raw water supply and improve environmental compliance for health outcomes and living standards.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said all projects funded through Closing the Gap Priorities Fund – Round 2 were local priorities and identified through direct consultation with elected Indigenous councils.
Important projects
“By investing in public health and essential infrastructure in Indigenous communities, we are backing locally prioritised projects that help deliver real tangible outcomes, better services and stronger foundations for the future,” Ms Simpson said.
“Importantly, these projects have been identified by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils themselves during our direct consultation, ensuring funding is directed to local priorities and delivers practical outcomes for communities.”
Member for Cook David Kempton said he welcomed the funding to his communities.
“The works on Horn Island are timely as it continues to grow in importance as a service centre to the Torres Strait,” Mr Kempton said.
“A reliable water supply for Erub Island will help to improve quality of life in the community and deliver better health outcomes.”
“Hope Vale similarly will benefit from water and sewerage upgrades and will be very welcoming of the refurbishment of the After School Care Facility.”
A devastated banana plantation in Hope Vale, after Cyclone Ita hit in 2014. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Torres Shire Council Mayor Elsie Seriat OAM said the funding recognised the practical infrastructure needs of island communities.
“This is very welcome news for Torres Shire and for our region. When these everyday services are strengthened, our people feel the benefit,” Mayor Seriat said.
“The investment in Horn Island Landfill is especially important because this facility supports our broader island communities. It is critical for public health, environmental protection, biosecurity and the long-term liveability of our region.
Investment welcome
“In the Torres Strait, everything is more complex and more expensive to deliver. We do not have the same access to nearby facilities that mainland communities can rely on, so investment in our own essential infrastructure is vital.”
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Bruce Gibson welcomed the investment in his community to improve service reliability and deliver a much-needed modern Kindergarten facility to deliver long-term benefits for local children.
“This funding will deliver critical water and sewerage infrastructure upgrades for the Hope Vale community,” Mayor Gibson said.
“The conversion of the After School Care Centre and associated improvements will also ensure the continued operation of the George Bowen Memorial Community Kindergarten.”
