Adani key to city’s recovery

THE start of the Adani Carmichael roadshow will be welcomed by jobseekers and suppliers, keen to see how they can benefit from the massive mining project.

What won’t be welcomed is the possibility of this roadshow being hijacked by protesters hellbent on creating a showstopping media stunt.

Of course, those opposed to the project are allowed to have their say and they’ve been heard loud and clear.

But the disruptive nature of some of the protests, including the stage intrusion at a debate of the state leaders ahead of the Queensland election and the reports of protesters putting human excrement into Adani machinery, is abhorrent.

Despite some mixed messages being sent to the mining company from the Queensland Premier during her recent election campaign, both the LNP and Labor say they support the project proceeding. So when the counting is over, only the Government’s support for the NAIF loan for the Adani rail link will be in doubt and not the project itself.

Townsville is a city well and truly ready to bid farewell to 2017 and the doubledigit unemployment rates of February.

Earlier this week the reported that 11.6 per cent unemployment figure in Townsville had improved significantly and was now down to 7.1 per cent, which industry experts believe is a solid indication the economy is improving. Business confidence is returning. There is still a long way to go but there is hope that the pipeline of jobs will continue to flow to the city given a number of key projects, and the Adani mine is a crucial piece of that puzzle.

Townsville City Council’s continued efforts to ensure infrastructure projects are fully achieved by locals is to be applauded and echo sentiments from Townsville Chamber of Commerce, which also continues to advocate a “buy local” philosophy.

Amid all the protests and drama about Adani, a jobs roadshow such as this should remind the public of the potential benefits of that project.