BIG FUTURE Teamwork will take the dream to reality
THE Townsville region is primed to benefit from scores of major projects and thousands of jobs but still needs more co- operation from governments on the delivery of critical inputs such as water and electricity, according to an infrastructure leader.
Infrastructure Association of Queensland chief executive Steve Abson was commenting on the organisation’s latest findings showing Townsville is set to benefit from a large upswing in projects over at least the next year.
While more co- operation was needed on delivery of public projects, Mr Abson said more thought was also needed on making sure investment was sustainable so that the construction skills and jobs that were created were retained in the region and that the benefits were long- lasting.
The association, the Queensland Major Contractors Association and Construction Skills Queensland has commissioned BIS Oxford Economics to compile the Major Projects Pipeline Report for Queensland.
Mr Abson said the latest work by the economics firm showed the value of work in the Townsville and North Queensland region would climb from a low of about $ 200 million in 2015- 16 to about $ 1.6 billion in 2017- 18.
He said the projects driving that increase included work on the National Broadband Network, renewable energy projects, the North Queensland stadium and upgrades to the Bruce Highway.
Adani’s Carmichael coal and rail project would further lift that activity as it reached financial close, he said.
“We do see North Queensland as having one of the strongest outlooks for major projects in the state,” Mr Abson said.
He said agreements on road funding for the Bruce Highway showed what could