Lots more to be done
IN RESPONSE to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s letter ( TB, 3/8). Following a continual blast from the Bulletin and the people of North Queensland, she has claimed all the development now taking place in Townsville.
What a hardworking woman. She claims credit for the widening of the port channel, water security, the Bruce Highway upgrade, the Townsville Stadium, extra hospital staff, fixing the Mt Isa rail line and also an upgrade for power to Sun Metals.
Right beside is another article saying she’s doing a woeful job. No mention of the support of Federal Government, but we know that whatever the Feds want done they must get state governments’ approval and they take the project as theirs.
What this means is we should now mobilise the mayors of Townsville, Burdekin, Hinchinbrook and Charters Towers with the politicians from state and federal electorates representing that area of the region including Townsville Enterprise with them as they are crucial to success.
This will mean we have different political parties all joining in to get a unanimous decision where we go in the future. The politicians should remember they are the servants of the people.
All reps should read a report released after extreme consultation by the Federal Government in 2014.
The 156-page document is called Pivot North: Inquiry into the Development of Northern Australia. The subtitle reads: “Final Report with 197 submissions, 209 Exhibits Sections include Economic and Social opportunities to develop Northern Australia, development of Proposals, Impediments to Development, Recommendations and 219 witness reports.”
They will find adequate many projects which not only serves Townsville but towns further west. Consider the Double Circuit 275kv power line from Woodstock to Mt Isa, a power station at Woodstock, dams on the Burdekin, Herbert, Haughton, improved highways with passing lanes, hydro stations on all dams in the region. Remember that solar power stations require a power line back to a major substation and this adds to the cost of the substation.
Remember that governments take years to make decisions for approvals and time is short so keep the momentum going.
GARTH HARRIGAN,
Aitkenvale.