Growth on the menu at brekkie
BUSINESSES are being encouraged to attend a breakfast event in Townsville this month where the region’s strong growth potential for major projects will be outlined.
Our North, Our Future, the Vision for Northern Queensland Infrastructure, is being held by Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland and Infrastructure Association of Queensland at the Townsville RSL on July 20.
RDA committee acting chair Frank Beveridge said future development and employment opportunities for the region would be the focus of the event.
“The event will outline the oppor- tunities involved in transitioning the region and what this means for the Queensland infrastructure industry,” Mr Beveridge said.
Guest speakers include Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan and senior economist at BIS Oxford Economics Adrian Hart.
Senator Canavan will discuss the Federal Government’s strategies for the development of northern Australia.
Mr Hart will present the key findings of the 2017 Queensland Major Projects Pipeline report and the infrastructure challenges and opportunities for North Queensland.
IAQ CEO Steve Abson said the project pipeline report identified $ 39.1 billion of major contracts over the next five years across the state.
“The report identifies North Queensland as the region with the strongest growth potential,” Mr Abson said. “There’s enormous opportunities to stimulate growth within regional Queensland.”
North Queensland projects listed as commencing or having a possible start in the current financial year include the $ 515 million Haughton River and Pink Lily Lagoon Bruce Highway upgrade, the $ 51 million Cleveland Bay treatment plant repair and upgrade, an $ 800 million North Queensland power station, the $ 250 million Townsville stadium, $ 225 million Ross River solar farm, $ 140 million Kennedy Energy Park wind and solar farms, $ 120 million Kidston solar project, the $ 96 million Collinsville solar farm, $ 400 million Cannington mine expansion and $ 320 million Roseby copper mine.
While Indian company Adani has announced plans to begin its huge Carmichael coal and rail projects this year, the report lists its $ 4 billion stage one mine and $ 2.5 billion rail project as “unlikely”.
The report, commissioned by IAQ, Queensland Major Contractors Association and Construction Skills Queensland, says there are signs of improvement for projects and that public investment in infrastructure is starting to recover. To register for the event go to iaq. com. au. Registrations close on July 17.