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Monday, June 4, 2012

Austraia: Dinosaur museum loses funding bid

From ABC: Dinosaur museum loses funding bid

The Quilpie Mayor says he is disappointed a multi-million dollar dinosaur museum in south-west Queensland has missed out on federal funding.

The Regional Australia Minister, Simon Crean, has named eight Queensland projects to get funding under round two of the Regional Development Australia fund, including projects for the Mackay, Central Highlands, Toowoomba and Ipswich councils.

Quilpie Mayor Stuart McKenzie says council asked for $1 million to showcase the nation's biggest dinosaur fossils but remote regions are finding it extremely difficult to win funding under the program.

"Last time, the first round, not one project got [funded] from across the range," he said.

"Well this time they've got to the top of the range - Toowoomba and Emerald is over the range, they are two fairly major population centres.

"So it is a slight improvement but look if you are in true regional Queensland, I don't know, I think it is an uphill battle."

Mr Crean says the successful projects will create an estimated 180 jobs during construction and more than 400 after.

The Moreton Bay Regional Council will get almost $8 million for its planned 'Corso' community facilities at North Lakes.

Funding has also been promised to rebuild seawalls in the Torres Strait, the Emerald Airport apron extension and the Mackay Regional Events Centre.

Mr Crean says they have been selected because they have demonstrated clear long-term benefits and will boost regional economic development.

"A significant commitment to Queensland. Close to $35 million of the 200 from Commonwealth money but interestingly it has leveraged almost four times that amount from other partners. It shows the real benefit of partnership," he said.

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