FIXING CRIME PROBLEM KEY FOR OUR PROGRESS

WE’RE in a tricky position, here in Townsville. We have a growing number of world-scale events coming to the region.

None bigger so far this year than the Matildas versus New Zealand match at Queensland Country Bank Stadium last night.

The day before, progress was announced on the development of an international hotel to be built next to the stadium.

More international acts, including veteran rockers KISS, are scheduled.

These are just some of the positive signs Townsville is continuing to grow and open up despite the pandemic. But attracting our share of southern population movements – much needed to help businesses struggling to secure workers – continues to hold us back from reaching our full potential.

As economist Colin Dwyer reveals today, population growth slowed in Townsville during the pandemic, which saw large numbers of people move away from large cities, mainly benefiting the Gold and Sunshine coasts.

“Almost all net internal migration has occurred close to major metropolitan areas. Indeed, over 92 per cent of net internal migration activity in Queensland occurred in the southeast corner,” Mr Dwyer said.

But Mr Dwyer does not mention the elephant in the room. Townsville’s reputation as the wild west – or north - of youth crime.

Some would prefer a blind eye was turned to that epidemic in the hope of luring more residents, but that would be unfair to those moving here and those here who have been touched by crime. “We should be marketing Townsville a lot harder to gain a greater share of the big domestic population shift,” Mr Dwyer said.

That would be much easier if there was a louder, more united voice committed to establishing an attainable and sustainable solution to the scourge of youth crime.