The realised benefits of MIPP funding and proper planning

Feature article written by Mark Crawley, CEO Carpentaria Shire Council

• strategic planning for infrastructure – funding studies and investigations that will assist local governments to form a strategic view of their key infrastructure priorities and needs
• business cases and/or detailed designs for the development of local government infrastructure proposals to provide better clarity on investment decisions.

• Expansion of Tourism within the Shire – Karumba Town PlanLes Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre is located on Yappar Street in Karumba
  • Three areas were identified for improvement within the Karumba Point and Karumba Town areas, a Master Plan was identified and proposed for the Point as well as a round-a-bout in Palmer Street near the Boat Ramp to assist traffic movement. A few entertainment pontoons were also proposed for the Les Wilson Discovery Centre and these have been realised and installed.
• Expansion of Tourism within the Shire – Normanton Points of Interest
  • To entice more visitors to visit and extend their length of stay, it has been identified that improvements to the town area are required including beautification, more enticing attractions to bring visitors and keep them within the Shire.
• Expansion of Tourism within the Shire – Carpentaria Road Network
  • A few key roads within the network that have appeal to tourist traffic were identified and cost benefit analysis were undertaken on these roads
• Expansion of Tourism within the Shire – Normanton Raw Water Irrigation
  • It was proposed to install a second system of “raw” untreated water for non-human consumption purposed, initially to larger water users.
  • The project will allow key businesses access to additional water for irrigation at a reduced rate for beautification of the town. (Appealing to tourists).

Following the completion of the Strategic Planning a copy of the reports was presented to Council at the General Meeting held on 16 September 2020 and more projects were identified because of the strategic planning to attract and expand the tourism industry within the Shire.

Carpentaria shire Council Karumba Foreshore development

Some ten (10) additional large projects were identified, and twelve roads were identified as possible benefits for investment to expand the tourism industry. Each of these came about because of the strategic lens applied to the review to assist in attracting tourists and contribute to an expansion of the industry. We could have adopted a view of chase grant funds and just “build it and they will come” which doesn’t provide the higher-level oversight and review of the full costs and better planning that was associated with the approach taken with the funding provided.

Carpentaria Shire Council Crossing upgrade

In April of this year a draft briefing document was prepared to provide a listing of the projects identified in the Strategic Planning reports, funded by MIPP, and has been provided to Councillors for further discussion and prioritising before any of the projects progress any further. Projects included Dam Concepts, Streetscaping in the Main Street (which is State Controlled and require discussion/negotiation with TMR) and landscape plans for park areas and the historic town walk, to name a few. Projects will be further categorised as concept, pre-feasibility, feasibility, planning and delivery or simply that Council does not want to pursue further and may be taken from the listing. One such project that falls in the last category (of not to further pursue) was the Town Signage for Normanton, while identified during the planning this one has been completed under LRCIP funding in a similar design to the signage at Karumba, thus creating similar signage between both towns within the Shire.

Carpentaria Shire Council road upgrade

It is best practice for all Councils to be considering the full costs of infrastructure before progressing projects and/or chasing funding to build new infrastructure. The funding programs, like MIPP, that assist the Council with the proper planning should be reinstated or a new program that assists Rural and Remote Councils with limited resources to better plan and prioritise rather than grant chasing must pay dividends and prepare Councils for success.