Mayor has jobs on mind

JOBS and master plans are at the forefront of Mayor Frank Beveridge’s mind as he marks 100 days since the local government election.

Cr Beveridge said the new Charters Towers Regional Council had approached the term “with all the enthusiasm of my four-year-old grandson wearing his Spider-man suit”.

“The councillor portfolio system is being embraced by the councillors and staff, with a free flow of information,” he said.

“Our idea of success is creating 100-plus jobs in the next three to four years that are over and above what we have now.

“And that can happen, it’s just that sometimes, if you’ve got that at the forefront of your mind and you look at everything through that lens, it narrows down significantly.”

Cr Beveridge said among the focal points was master plans to enable developments.

“We have started the process to get a master plan on the saleyards, with some traffic flow indications, and this will separate the light vehicles from the roadtrains.

“And we are in the early stages of getting the master plan for all commercial and indusyour focus trial land in our region.”

Cr Beveridge said the council wanted to see the master plan information available to all, via the council’s website, within the next year.

He said that way any satellite businesses connected to big projects such as the Adani development, the Australia Singapore Military Training Initiative and Big Rocks Weir could easily be “bedded down” in Charters Towers.

“Someone in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne coming to North Queensland can see what land we have available,” Cr Beveridge said.

“That program is about pinching jobs off other people and bringing them here.”

Cr Beveridge said the region’s involvement in the State Government run Communities in Transition program was also progressing well.

“It’s been an excellent 100 days,” he said. “We’re continuing on from the good work that all previous councils have done before us.

“Most of the projects that are happening now have been on the books for a very long time. This is how things work.

“Big Rocks Weir started seven years ago. The water park started six years ago.

“This is why we have to constantly have new projects ready to go.”