City has cause for optimism

TOWNSVILLE is getting back to work.

While the city, its businesses and people have endured extremely difficult trading conditions, reports this week give cause for much optimism.

Economists say major projects are driving the creation of much- needed jobs.

The projects include the development of the new North Queensland Stadium, where construction was launched on the CBD site last week, a big new zinc mine near Cloncurry which is ramping up for production late this year or early next year, an expansion of the Willows Shopping Centre which opened to big crowds yesterday and the start of work on several utility- scale renewable energy projects including two large solar farms in Townsville.

About 3000 jobs are being created on these projects and others over the next two years with another 3800 jobs to flow in the medium term from developments such as Adani’s Carmichael coal and rail project, an expansion of Sun Metals zinc refinery, the Singapore defence training agreement and plans for a battery factory.

This is on top of gains in the size of the labour force for the Townsville region from about 107,000 in May last year to 119,000 in July, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

Recruitment professionals say the number of jobs being advertised in Townsville has doubled and indicate a broad recovery is under way.

The ABS estimate for the unemployment rate at Townsville in July of 6 per cent might not be precise but at least it is moving in the right direction.

The city needs to build on the momentum with energy and water projects to support growth and lifestyle.

Also, Clive Palmer, who it can be argued added greatly to the city’s difficulties through his ownership and closure last year of the Yabulu nickel refinery, needs to be encouraged to get out of the way and allow that site to be put back into production or to some better use.