INFRASTRUCTURE, COUNCILS, BUSINESSES WANT MPS TO DO MORE
CRITICAL water and energy infrastructure, and support for mining are the priorities North Queensland civic and business leaders want politicians to address in the state election.
Townsville Enterprise, and the Townsville City, Burdekin Shire, Charters Towers Regional, Hinchinbrook and Palm Island councils have joined forces to formulate a comprehensive priority list for the North Queensland ahead of the November 25 election.
Priorities include lower energy prices, water security, support for mining, the Mount Isa to Townsville rail connection, the port channel capacity upgrade project, a new Townsville Entertainment and Exhibition Centre, the Townsville State Development Area, the Museum of Underwater Art, the Townsville Concert Hall and the State of Origin bid.
In terms of innovation and new industries, the lithium- ion battery plant, the Australian Tropical Biosecurity Network and the reinstatement of economic development funding topped the list.
The Townsville Chamber of Commerce’s priorities for the upcoming election include open support for the mining industry, amendments to the Queensland Procurement Policy to increase regional participation, a review of payroll tax, support for Drive IT NQ and the decentralisation of state departments.
Townsville Chamber of Commerce board member Michael Kopittke said the chamber wanted fiscally responsible policy from all political parties.
“We’re a little deterred that the Premier ( Annastacia Palaszczuk), when asked this week what the state debt was, couldn’t tell us and, even worse, she couldn’t tell us how much her government has paid off,” he said.
“The chamber wants to see more from its politicians, more than simply making announcements that suit the southern end of the state.”
Mr Kopittke said the chamber wanted support for the Carmichael mine to extend beyond Ms Palaszczuk.
“It’s one thing for the Premier to say she supports the mine but her deputy Jackie Trad this week is casting doubt on the financial viability of the ( Carmichael) mine,” he said.
“What we need is our local politicians stepping up and pushing their Brisbane- based colleagues for solutions to the problems faced in the North.”
Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said they would continue to be a loud voice for the Townsville North Queensland region during the election campaign.
“The message is simple: this election is about jobs, it’s about opportunity and it’s about our community,” she said. “The fact that we have to lobby for secure and sustainable water and energy is unacceptable.
“Our community deserves affordable and reliable power. It’s up to the politicians to deliver on that and we can’t be caught up in ideological arguments around these issues.
“This election is also about positioning Townsville North Queensland as a globally recognised city and region, known for its livability, world- class tourism experiences, innovation and new industries that will set up generations to come.”
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the key priority for the city was support from the State Government for the proposed lithium- ion battery plant.
“This is a project which could create up to 1000 direct jobs, another 1000 positions in direct supporting businesses and up to a further 5000 indirect jobs,” Cr Hill said.
“Council has played a leading role in attracting the consortium, led by Boston Energy and Innovation, and whichever party forms the next State Government needs to commit to the project.”
Cr Hill said Townsville needed a new concert hall with a capacity of 800 to 1000 people to cement the city’s credentials as a key regional destination for music and the arts.
Cr Hill said the Palaszczuk Government had delivered $ 225 million for water security in Townsville, which was matched by the LNP Opposition. “This new expanded pipeline is happening and we have already started work on the project,” Cr Hill said. General infrastructure. Townsville’s latest upgrades happened in the 1970s. We still have the same roads, same electricity. We need investment. Ninety per cent of the state’s wealth is generated north of Rockhampton. Honesty among politicians. We need water and jobs but we need to know what financial state we’re in and what the true deficit is. That will come with honesty and transparency. Water and crime. We really need water to support what the council wants to do with development. We need Hell’s Gate dam because a duplication of the pipeline won’t fix the problem longterm. We are already paying rates for water we can’t use.