- Crisafulli 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 Crisafulli Government is committed to driving real progress in Closing the Gap outcomes for our First Peoples.
The Crisafulli Government has delivered for the Torres Strait islands and the Far North Queensland community of Hope Vale with funding confirmed in the 2026-27 State Budget toward five essential infrastructure projects.
Under Round 2 of the Closing the Gap Priorities Fund, a total of $13.64 million through five projects addresses water security, critical transport, waste management, and early childhood education services.
On Horn Island, the Crisafulli Government will deliver critical upgrades to the local landfill facility to expand capacity, ensure compliance, and bolster environmental protections for the Loggy Creek Dam.
The local airport will also receive runway upgrades to improve safety and continuity of essential air services.
Elsewhere in the Torres Strait, the Crisafulli Government will 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 Crisafulli Government will deliver water and sewerage system upgrades to improve health outcomes and living standards.
These five locally prioritised initiatives are part of the 21 new projects which were funded through the Crisafulli Government’s second Budget.
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 Crisafulli Government will 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.
During Labor’s decade of decline, the former Government focused on stoking division rather than delivering tangible outcomes for our First Peoples, with Labor ignoring Indigenous communities seeking support to fix failing critical infrastructure.
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.
“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,” Minister 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.
“The Crisafulli Government’s commitment to these 21 projects clearly demonstrates our ongoing efforts to drive real progress in Closing the Gap outcomes for our First Peoples and I look forward to announcing more of these projects soon.”
Member for Cook David Kempton said he welcomed the funding to his remote communities, after years of the former Labor government promising big but delivering little.
“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.
“The Crisafulli Government continues to work with the remote communities in Cook to improve the living standards and improve health options.”
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.
“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.”
