Region growth in good health

TOWNSVILLE will be among the fastest growing regional centres in Australia over the next 14 years, according to a leading research institute.

In a report released yesterday, the Regional Australia Institute predicted Townsville’s compound annual growth rate between 2013 and 2031 would be 3.6 per cent – the third highest in the nation.

Although the predicted growth rate does not match Townsville’s 4.2 per cent growth during the 2001- 2013 mining boom, RAI says it is well above the predicted national average of 2.7 per cent.

RAI chief Jack Archer said Townsville had proven it was more than just a mining town.

“Townsville is a bigger, more diverse city than some mining towns,” he said.

“It has strong sectors tourism, education and fence it can relyy on.”

Townsville Enterprise policy and nd investment directorctor Michael McMilillan agreed that t diversification n had kept the city turning g since the min- ing boom.

“T o w n s v i l l e was impacted d just like places like Mackay and Gladstone in the mining downturn,” he said.

“But we have other industries that have kept us going like tourism, education, services and defence.”

Mr McMillan said although unemployment remained an issue in the short term, he hoped major projects including like de- the new stadium and Carmichael coal mine would help. “We’re crying out for the jobs from the Carmichael mine, but when it does come along, I don’t think we will have the same dependence that we did during the boom,” Mr McMillan said. Mr ArcherAr said the resear research showed reg regional Australia was a vital part of Australia’s economic future. “W h a t w we’re getting at the moment is p people looking at th the latest 12 months of data and saying it’s all about Sydney and Melbourne,” he said. “But when you look at the long- term performance it’s not the view that really holds up. “You hear a lot about how regional areas are struggling, but the economic modelling shows over the medium- term they’re going to be fine.”