FOR CITY ON MOVE Water security tops council’s concerns
be achieved with big projects under way and planned.
While there was strong intent from both the Federal and State governments to invest in the North, all too often projects, particularly in water and energy, were played out along political lines with disagreement on how best to proceed.
“We need ( governments) to work harder to get the alignment and bipartisan agreement on the economic infrastructue needed for the region,” Mr Abson said.
Townsville Chamber of Commerce president Troy Popham said the region was as close as it had ever been to recovery and believed 2018 would be the defining year.
“There’s definitely a pipeline of opportunities and projects that are advancing and coming on line,” he said. “That can only deliver positive sentiment given the economy and where we have been.”
Mr Popham said many po- tential investors were watchh ing the market.
“I believe that once a few of these projects get more momentum there will be more people entering the market and taking risks again which will be welcome,” he said. CITY leaders have stressed the importance of water and energy security as well as the need for key infrastructure upgrades relating to air, sea and rail transport to capitalise on opportunities.
Mayor Jenny Hill said water was the “big one” for the council and for Townsville.
Earlier this year, the State Labor Government announced $ 225 million over four years to act on the findings of the Townsville Water Taskforce, which for the short term was to duplicate the Haughton Channel pipeline.
The dollar value of the Labor commitment has been matched by the LNP.
Townsville City Council has sought to have the water funds delivered over two years.
Cr Hill said the Townsville City Deal and delivery of water security was the big issue for Townsville and she did not expect the Government to deny the earlier two- year delivery.
“They need clarity and transparency on how we are going to achieve that over two years,” she said.
While the Federal Government committed to establish a water taskforce to improve Townsville’s water security, supply and water usage under the City Deal, the federal Coalition is yet to announce a project funding contribution.
The federal Labor Opposition has pledged $ 100 million to implement the findings of the water taskforce and $ 200 million towards a hydro- electric scheme on the Burdekin Falls Dam.
Cr Hill said major projects such as the Adani Carmichael coal and rail projects and the Boston Energy and Innovation’s battery factory would be critical to deliver jobs.
She said almost $ 1 billion in road funding was being delivered for two projects to upgrade the Bruce Highway at Cattle Creek and the Haughton River near Townsville over the next few years.
About $ 1 billion in construction would also be required to support the Singapore defence training agreement, she said.
Townsville Enterprise director policy and investment Michael McMillan said the Port of Townsville expansion, the Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor and upgrades to the Mount Isa rail corridor were on the development body’s agenda. He said water security and affordable electricity pricing for industry also remained priorities.
Mr McMillan said there were varying levels of commitments to major projects under the Townsville City Deal and more work was needed to realise some of these objectives.
Townsville Chamber of Commerce president Troy Popham said the region needed to secure affordable electricity for business and water security to provide a constant supply during times of drought.
“We also need to ensure our pathways to market – the airport, rail and the port – are open and active,” he said. “Once those pathways are open, the opportunities are there.”