Squeeze on new project options

NO project outside the Townsville City Deal should benefit from a slice of the $195m slated for the region, Mayor Jenny Hill says.

Cr Hill has criticised other Townsville politicians for trying to squeeze non-city deal projects, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service Townsville base upgrades and the water pipeline under Riverway Drive, into the $195m negotiations.

The funding, which was initially earmarked for the Haughton Pipeline Stage 2, will be redistributed to other projects in Townsville after the state government opted to fund the major water project on their own.

Cr Hill said projects like the RFDS upgrades should be funded through a different bucket of money.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper has pushed for part of the $195m to go to the pipeline under Riverway Drive, which must be replaced before stage two of the road upgrade can go ahead.

“Fundamentally, it’s about having politicians there (in the meetings) who have a vision for the North and who are going in there fighting for us to make sure we can deliver that vision,” Cr Hill said. “I want to work with our federal member and our state members because I want to see Townsville grow, and in the end if we’re not working together, we’ll wind up the back blocks of regional Queensland.”

Cr Hill said the council was looking into where it could get pipeline replacement funding.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said he fundamentally disagreed with the Mayor about the RFDS project, but did agree on the pipeline.

“The Royal Flying Doctor Service is a great project that will not just benefit people in Townsville but all in Northern Australia and other nations that require live saving medical treatment,” Mr Thompson said. The MP said the development would become a medical hub, helping regional communities get the help they need.

Mr Thompson said in regards to the pipeline, the council and state had known about the issues for some time.

After months of waiting and failed negotiations, Mr Thompson said conversations were moving along.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland wanted its fair share.

“I met with (Cities) Minister (Paul) Fletcher and Mayor Jenny Hill on Friday,” Mr Miles said.

“The Mayor and I have been working together, asking the federal government to get this money out the door. We will continue to work to get the best result for Townsville.”