Blueprint for 25 years of regional growth

MORE than 35,000 jobs and 50,000 new houses will be needed in North Queensland by 2041, the State Government has estimated.

The future growth of North Queensland’s population by 90,000 people over the next two decades has sparked the creation of the first ever dedicated planning blueprint for the region.

The North Queensland Regional Plan, to be unveiled by State Development Minister Cameron Dick ( pictured) today, is aimed at providing a way to sustainably manage growth in greater Townsville over the next 25 years.

“North Queensland is experiencing a strong period of growth resulting in changing demographics and economic and employment patterns, which will require more local jobs, homes, schools and services to be delivered,” he said.

“The draft regional plan provides the blueprint to manage this growth sustainably and ensure North Queensland is a place people want to live, work and visit now and into the future. Importantly, the draft plan aims to secure more land for industrial purposes, which will underwrite new and emerging industries to support and create more jobs in sectors such as defence, manufacturing and healthcare.”

According to the draft plan, health care and social assistance will be the largest job growth sector, with an extra 10,000 jobs projected by 2036. Hospital bed days will also surge from 158,000 to 314,000.

The plan takes in Charters Towers, Burdekin, Palm Island, Townsville, and Hinchinbrook. It will complement Townsville’s City Deal.

A key measure of the plan’s success will include decreasing the number of incompatible developments occurring on agricultural land and increasing growth in the defence industry.

Mundingburra MP Coralee O’rourke said the regional plan would provide “vital direction” for the area over the next 25 years.

“The vision unveiled in the draft plan positions North Queensland as the capital of Northern Australia,” Mrs O’rourke said. “North Queensland is thriving and while change is exciting, we need to be on the front foot with long term planning and strategic thinking which is what the draft regional plan achieves.”

Mr Dick said the regional planning process was an opportunity to address regional challenges and identify new ways to grow the region’s economy.

“The economic focus of the plan will be strengthened with a North Queensland Economic Development Workshop held next week to identify and prioritise key economic opportunities for the region,” he said.

“We worked closely with the region’s five councils and consulted the community to get to this stage. We now want to hear from residents about their views on the draft plan.”

Residents are encouraged to have their say on the draft regional plan before submissions close on November 22.