Big Budget Boost for Gladstone’s Future Growth 

A welcome boost for Gladstone’s future has been highlighted with the Australian Local Government Association welcoming the Federal Government’s Budget commitment of $2 billion for housing enabling infrastructure. The announcement has been described as a meaningful step forward that reflects years of sustained advocacy from local councils across Australia, including regional communities like Gladstone. The Albanese Government’s Budget will include an additional $2 billion, with $500 million dollars directed to regional Australia over four years from 2026 to 2027, aimed at funding essential infrastructure and supporting the delivery of up to $65,000 new homes. This level of investment is seen as an encouraging signal for communities experiencing strong growth and housing demand. 

ALGA President Mayor Matt Burnett said the announcement shows the Federal Government has listened carefully to the repeated calls from councils for stronger investment in the infrastructure needed to unlock housing supply. Councils have consistently explained that new homes cannot be delivered without the foundations that support them, including roads, drainage, water connections, and community infrastructure that make developments both possible and liveable. This commitment recognises that enabling infrastructure has been one of the most significant barriers to improving housing supply and affordability across the country, including in growing regional centres such as Gladstone. Mayor Burnett noted that ALGA has been advocating strongly for investment in what it calls building block infrastructure since releasing its 2024 report into the national housing challenge, which identified a major shortfall in the infrastructure required to support the delivery of around one point two million new homes nationwide.