No need for panel

I WELCOME the Member for Herbert’s interest (TB letters, 16/9) in the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 global pandemic and his support of my call to progress quickly to ensure we maximise the jobs available for North Queenslanders.

Families are hurting. We must act swiftly and decisively in creating jobs and stimulating our local economy.

The federal government’s $195 million investment in stage two of the Haughton pipeline project was part of the Townsville City Deal, which was signed in December 2016 by all three levels of government.

This funding is now no longer required for the pipeline and the federal government has committed to investing the $195 million in other projects under the Townsville City Deal since 2019.

I welcomed this commitment and have been working with the Member for Herbert and the community to ensure we get the best possible bang for our buck with the funding, particularly the creation of sustainable jobs.

Far from being my “pet projects” the development of the Lansdown Industrial Precinct and the North Australia Cultural Precinct (NACP) are both projects identified in the

Townsville City Deal. That means they have been scrutinised and supported by all three levels of government.

They are jobs generating, community building projects and that’s why I continue to talk them up.

Lansdown and the NACP have also been identified by Taskforcenq as projects that would assist our region in recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Taskforcenq was established in April to bring together business, community and government in a collective approach to the long-term health, social and economic recovery. The taskforce’s steering committee includes a nominee of both the Prime Minister and Queensland Premier as well as the chair of the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils.

The Member for Herbert is the Prime Minister’s nominee to the steering committee.

In the time that the taskforce has been in operation its working groups, which includes over 120 community and business leaders, have identified more than 190 policies, initiatives, programs and projects to accelerate the region’s recovery from COVID.

The steering committee has endorsed six project clusters and more than 50 projects that are now being advocated to the state and federal governments on behalf of the NQ region.

All the work done through our City Deal and Taskforcenq makes the Member for Herbert’s projects panel unnecessary.

It is time for all of us to get on with the job and deliver for our community.

As Mayor, I will continue to advocate and work with governments of all political persuasions for the best deal for our city and deliver the jobs needed for our community.

CR JENNY HILL, Mayor of Townsville.