Rail line next on to- do list

PORT of Townsville is central to the fabric of our city’s existence now more than ever in our history.

It is the infrastructure our city was founded on, back in the days when industry was centred along Ross Creek and dominated the movement of produce in and out of our North Queensland frontier town. Despite our city’s many advances, the port is still where the bulk of the imported goods North Queensland consumes comes from.

It is also a key export point for Queensland primary producers and especially vital for big business tapping opportunities that await in Asia.

A stronger Port of Townsville will be vital for the growth and development of Northern Australia, as set out in the Coalition’s White Paper.

Yesterday’s announcement of a major spend on new cranes and cargo- handling machinery at the state- owned port is a key investment in that future growth.

Coming in the midst of the looming end to the Berth 4 upgrade, this means our local port will be a busy construction zone for a long while yet.

The Government is off on the right foot if support of large industry is a strategy for its direction in North Queensland.

However, if it is serious about its commitment to the North, it must move to immediately address the looming crisis that is the Townsville- Mount Isa rail line.

This logistical artery connecting the northwest’s industry and mineral riches to the coast is in such a state that companies are putting huge amounts of freight in heavy trucks instead of on trains.

The Government has committed $ 50 million to rail upgrades, but numbers the paper has seen suggest that is a drop in the bucket of what will be required.

Meanwhile, a bold new plan to connect Mount Isa and Tennant Creek by rail is gaining pace, promising jobs and great opportunity for businesses in the northwest to access Asia via Darwin.

Hopefully the improved outlook for the state’s coal royalties income will loosen new Treasurer Jackie Trad’s coin purse.