Barcaldine is set to claim the title of the central west's high rise town, with news that a tourist lookout worth $1.58 million will be added onto the Globe tourism precinct.
Equivalent in height to a three-story building, the lookout will complement the two-story visitor centre and gallery that was once a landmark hotel in the central west town, and will vie with the imposing Tree of Knowledge structure for skyline superiority.
The development, which will generate five jobs, will be made possible thanks to the latest round of the Queensland government's Building our Regions funding.
Some 48 construction and planning projects across the state have been approved in round five, generating an estimated 347 jobs in partnership with 39 councils across the state.
The key projects in Barcaldine, Longreach, Blackall-Tambo and Diamantina shires will deliver almost $4m to the region and create 22 jobs.
Barcaldine mayor Sean Dillon said the Building our Regions program made a meaningful difference each round but this particular round was going to have a substantial impact for his area.
He said the lookout to rise above the roofs of town would allow visitors to take in the wide Mitchell Grass vista of the outback.
"Particularly those coming in from the east, this will be their first opportunity to embrace its beauty and vastness," he said.
He said it would be usable at night as well as in the day, and would support local businesses by giving visitors another reason to extend their stay.
"Its style will be similar to the Globe itself and be a substantial construction," he said.
An $874,120 Building our Regions funding injection will move saleyards redevelopment plans further along at Longreach.
The total cost of the Western Queensland Livestock Exchange project is estimated at $3,274,120 and it received $500,000 in a 2018 Building our Regions funding round for a rail siding extension.
Longreach mayor Tony Rayner said as well as co-contributions from AAMIG, which is leasing the facility, they were waiting for confirmation of $900,000 from the federal government's Building Better Regions Fund, which would go towards new holding paddocks and more infrastructure improvements.
"The yards are already in use seven days a week now for spelling and private weighing but the intention is to have it as a selling centre," Cr Rayner said. "This funding is good news - it's an infrastructure development that creates employment for the local economy, which is what we need."
It's estimated the funding will create 10 jobs constructing new livestock weighing infrastructure, selling ring, drafting area and central building as well as upgrades to pens and latching mechanisms, and the installation of ramps.
Cr Rayner is also the chairman of the Remote Area Planning and Development Board and said the funding of five projects in the wider region would make a huge difference to the prosperity of the region.
The Blackall-Tambo Regional Council has secured funding for two projects for a combined total of $654,900.
The third stage of the Blackall-Tambo internet project will progress with the construction of eight solar-powered towers to expand reliable internet through microwave technology, with $200,00 from BoR.
A glass-sided Tambo trucking heritage building will be built to display two classic trucks permanently loaned to the community by Johnson Bros Transport.
The display will highlight the history of the trucks, the livestock they carried, and roads travelled, and is expected to will enhance tourism offerings for the remote region and create flow-on economic benefits for local businesses, thanks to $454,900 of BoR funding.
Council-owned houses and community buildings in Bedourie and Birdsville will have solar power installed through the Diamantina Solar Power Project, utilising almost $1m of Building our Regions funding.
It will reduce costs to council and individual households and allowing greater investment in tourism and economic stability.
Project works will include installation of roof mounted solar panels of various sizes and power capacity.
A variety of other projects have been funded around the state:
- Banana Shire Council - Biloela Industrial Estate, stage 3 - $1.8m
- Carpentaria Shire Council - Les Wilson Barramundi Centre entertainment area - $250,000
- Central Highlands Regional Council - Emerald Airport terminal redevelopment - $2.14m
- Central Highlands Regional Council - Yamala Enterprise Area water infrastructure and design study - $290,000
- Cook Shire Council - Coen Airport facility upgrade - $955,000
- Etheridge Shire Council - Terrestrial Visitor Information Centre expansion - $500,000
- Flinders Shire Council - Hughenden aquatic centre upgrade - $550,000
- Livingstone Shire Council - Yeppoon sewerage treatment plant sustainable energy project - $2.81m
- Livingstone Shire Council - Causeway Lake revitalisation business case - $300,000
- Maranoa Regional Council - Bassett Park racing stable expansion - $466,000
- Maranoa Regional Council - Big Rig expansion - $1.628m
- Mareeba Shire Council - Chillagoe water infrastructure - $450,000
- Mount Isa City Council - Family Fun precinct redevelopment - $3.756m
- Murweh Shire Council - Charleville gym expansion - $200,000
- Murweh Shire Council - Morven freight hub truck wash - $875,000
- North Burnett Regional Council - RM Williams Learning Centre bush tucker trail and sewerage upgrade - $513,000
- Paroo Shire Council - Digital connectivity project, stage two - $600,000
- Rockhampton Regional Council - North Rockhampton flood backflow prevention - $871,000
- Scenic Rim Regional Council - Beaudesert Town Centre revitalisation - $3.75m
- Southern Downs Regional Council - Warwick saleyards truck wash - $500,000
- Toowoomba Regional Council - Queen's Park revitalisation - $2.793m
- Western Downs Regional Council - Tara Lagoon parklands development - $2.4m