Hill bids to repair region’s rail links

THE severely damaged Townsville to Mount Isa railway line is an immediate issue for both regional communities, with Mayor Jenny Hill flagging its importance with the Prime Minister and his opposition counterpart.

Cr Hill, along with Townsville Enterprise Limited (TEL), Herbert MP Cathy O’toole and the mayors of Burke Shire and Mount Isa were in Canberra yesterday to lobby both sides of government following the unprecedented flooding in Townsville and northwest Queensland.

“This event is unprecedented, you don’t get a year’s worth of rain dropped in seven days and not suffer the way we have in both Townsville and the regions,” Cr Hill said.

“An immediate problem is the Townsville to Mt Isa railway line and what that means for local jobs.

“That is a major transport corridor not just for goods and services but also to our refineries, to the ore bodies out west and some of the ore products that come out of refineries to head back to Mt Isa and the mines beyond.

“That is an issue the State Government is looking very hard at at the moment and something we have raised with both the Prime Minister (Scott Morrison) and the Opposition Leader (Bill Shorten).

“That matter needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.”

Cr Hill is also lobbying government to back four programs for Townsville’s longterm recovery.

She is seeking investment for business recovery, defence growth, a smart precinct and a tourism package.

Cr Hill said the “frank discussion” with Ministers, Shadow Ministers and leaders of both parties had been largely positive and that they were prepared to look at everything to ensure the region’s recovery.

TEL chairman Kevin Gill said his message had been about kickstarting the Adani project to ensure jobs creation.

“We have made it pretty clear to all levels of government that the Galilee basin is a critical job producer for our region and certainly we can’t have any more delays in getting the Adani project off the ground,” he said.

“The goalposts continue to change, we simply ask that project gets up.”