EVENTS PAY OFF

A CAPE York man will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court this morning following the alleged stabbing murder of a woman.

The 29- year- old was charged yesterday morning after an incident at a Kowanyama home early on Saturday morning.

Acting Cape Patrol Inspector Antoni Lesic said a neighbour called police about 12.30am after hearing a disturbance at the Pindi St home.

It is alleged that during an altercation the 35- year- old woman was stabbed in the neck. It is believed the couple were in a de facto relationship. QUEENSLAND is heading for a skills shortage, with uncertainty over major infrastructure projects deterring top talent from coming here.

An Infrastructure Association of Queensland survey shows that fears over whether gamechanging initiatives such as Cross River Rail and Adani’s mega- mine will go ahead are suppressing industry confidence.

While just more than 60 per cent of its member companies expect business to be stronger nationally during the next six months, only 46 per cent expect the same of Queensland. ATTRACTING new events to Townsville has reaped huge rewards for the city, according to new data.

Townsville Enterprise statistics reveal during the 2016- 17 financial year, the Townsville North Queensland Bid Fund attracted 17 new events, which drew nearly 80,000 guest nights, equating to $ 21.1 million.

The Bid Fund is funded annually through contributions from Townsville Enterprise, Townsville Airport, Townsville City Council, Tourism and Events Queensland and a collective of nine local accommodation and venue operators.

Townsville Enterprise tourism and events director Bridget Woods said the Bid Fund supported the attraction of new sporting, business ( conferences/ exhibitions) and leisure event organisers to North Queensland that otherwise would not have considered hosting their event in the area.

“Events seeking must meet eligibility funding criteria, SOME of the events that have been established from the Townsville North Queensland Bid Fund: • 2018, 2019 & 2020 QLD XTERRA Championships • 2017, 2018 & 2019 Mountain Bike Australia XCM National Championship ( Townsville Mountain Bike Festival) • 2017 BMX QLD State Championships • 2017 Pacific Masters Darts and Australian Championship • 2016 Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine Conference • 2016 Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand ( PSANZ) Conference • 2016 Netball Queensland Suzuki Challenge Carnival

FUND SUCCESS

one of which is the requirement for events to provide inbound visitation to the region, with more than 50 per cent of participants staying in overnight paid accommodation,” she said.

“Since its inception ( in 2014), the Bid Fund has committed over $ 536,000 towards securing 35 new events.”

Ms Woods said, to date, 18 of