North Queensland Telecommunications and Energy Improvement Grants
North Queensland Telecommunications and Energy Improvement Grants support projects that trial and adapt new technologies to improve access to reliable and cost-effective telecommunications connectivity or energy supply.
Program overview
Co-contribution grants of between $10,000 and $1 million were available on a competitive basis for projects that trial and adapt new technologies or upgrade existing technologies and improve access to reliable and cost-effective telecommunications connectivity or energy supply.
See the full list of successful projects funded by the North Queensland Telecommunications and Energy Improvement Grants (North & Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 25 January – 14 February 2019).
The North Queensland Telecommunications and Energy Improvement Grants are funded by the Australian Government and administered by QRIDA.
Eligible areas
Projects must be located in one or more of the following areas:
- Burdekin Shire Council
- Burke Shire Council
- Carpentaria Shire Council
- Charters Towers Regional Council
- Cloncurry Shire Council
- Douglas Shire Council
- Etheridge Shire Council
- Flinders Shire Council
- Hinchinbrook Shire Council
- McKinlay Shire Council
- Richmond Shire Council
- Townsville City Council
- Whitsunday Regional Council
- Winton Shire Council
For further details view the guidelines and frequently asked questions below.
Round 1 key dates
| 8 February 2021 | Applications open for 12 weeks |
| 30 April 2021 | Applications closed |
| By 18 June 2021 | Applicants will be notified of outcomes |
Related information
NQ Telecommunications and energy improvement guidelines (PDF, 293 KB)Frequently asked questions
Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis in each stream against the following criteria:
- Public benefit
- Co-contribution and value for money
- Capability and capacity
- Project attributes.
For more information on how applications will be competitively assessed read the guidelines on this page.
You must immediately notify QRIDA if there is a change to the scope of the project. Contact us here.
Primary production enterprises and small to medium sized businesses applying for the grant must be registered for GST. All other applicant entities need to indicate whether or not they are registered for GST in the form.
Questions concerning your personal taxation circumstances should be directed to your taxation advisor or the Australian Taxation Office on 13 72 86.
Yes, you may apply. QRIDA, at its absolute discretion, and without commitment, may consider issuing a conditional approval subject to you arranging your co-contribution to the amount required for the subject project(s), and such that this/these project(s) are commenced/completed within the allowed timeframes.
Grant funding is not guaranteed at any stage of the application process and applications will be assessed on a competitive basis.
Jobs are to be calculated as Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Staff.
Full time work is 35 hours per week or more. If your project will employ casual or part time workers, calculate the number of hours to be worked by these employees and divide that total by 35 to determine full time equivalents.
For example, seven casual employees working 10 hours per week totalling 70 hours per week, equates to two full time employees.
