Energy heads poll priorities NQ councils outline their wishlists
FIVE North Queensland councils have compiled their State election priorities wishlist with a firm focus being placed on securing sustainable energy prices and access.
Townsville Enterprise will today release the document which identifies projects including the Townsville port channel widening, the Museum of Underwater Art and the lithium- ion battery plant as being priority infrastructure.
Townsville, Burdekin, Hinchinbrook, Charters Towers and Palm Island councils, along with the broader business community have compiled the election wishlist.
Townsville Enterprise chair Kevin Gill said the major priority issues – the cost of energy and water – were crippling industry and impacting com- m un i t i e s across North Queensland.
“For a region abundant with natural resources it is unacceptable to live with the unsustainable costs of accessing these basic necessities,” Mr Gill said.
The councils believe that fast- tracking cost effective, clean technology coal- fired baseload power generation in the North is one way to reduce costs and increase supply.
The wishlist also calls for diversification of power generation ownership.
Mr Gill said the majority of the election priorities were aligned with the City Deal and with North Queensland’s competitive advantages in areas such as defence, tropical research and innovation and tourism.
“Townsville and the broader region have been doing it tough in recent years and we need targeted government investment and policy to support growth, attract investment and stimulate business confidence,” he said.
Mayor Jenny Hill said with funding available for Townsville’s water security plans, the focus was on creating new jobs.
“Our next major priority is the development of a lithiumIon battery manufacturing plant and the thousands of direct and indirect jobs that come along with it,” Cr Hill said.
“Funding the feasibility study for this Australian first project would see not only Townsville but Queensland move on to the global innovation stage.”