LNP Candidate for Kennedy, Noeline Ikin and Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, have both welcomed the announcement of $3.5 million in funding for the Mission Beach Aquatic Facility.

Mrs Ikin and Mr Cripps said they were delighted to learn that the Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s funding application had been successful under the National Stronger Regions Fund.

“The Mission Beach Aquatic Facility will be a great step forward for the local community after years of planning – I know how much this will mean for so many people at Mission Beach, because I have spoken with local residents and they’ve told me” said Mrs Ikin.

“I think it’s fantastic that the results of a Federal Government Grants Program all the way down in Canberra can have such a positive impact on a regional community like Mission Beach – it goes to show that you can get the right decision if everyone works together” she said.

Mrs Ikin and Mr Cripps said they had worked closely together to help make the case for the Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s application for the Mission Beach Aquatic Facility.

“It’s been great to work with Noeline on this, but I want to acknowledge the very high quality application submitted by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, which I can say was remarked upon by the Federal Government when we were lobbying for it” said Mr Cripps.

“I also want to pay tribute to people like Ken Gray, who has worked tirelessly for years to see this project delivered for Mission Beach and the many other people who have advocated relentlessly to highlight this big gap in public infrastructure for a community of this size” he said.

Mrs Ikin and Mr Cripps said they looked forward to working together on this and other projects in the federal electorate of Kennedy and the state electorate of Hinchinbrook in future.