Mayoral Delegation: Townsville Community Cabinet

As we gear up for the State Government election in October, Townsville Enterprise alongside the Deputy Mayor of Townsville City Council - Paul Jacob, Mayor of Charters Towers Regional Council - Liz Schmidt, Mayor of Hinchinbrook Shire Council - Ramon Jayo and Mayor of Burdekin Shire Council - Pierina Dalle Cort, recently attended the Townsville Community Cabinet to highlight the opportunities and challenges being faced in our region.

Together we stand united to Unlock the North.

While most of our mayors are new, the North Queensland passion to secure our future and get our fair share from State Government is as strong as ever!

We met with the following parliamentary representatives:

Hon Cameron Dick MP: Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment

Townsville Waterfront Renewal - Securing our liveability and workforce attraction

With more than 20,000 additional skilled workers needed across Townsville North Queensland, infrastructure to support liveability is critical. The Townsville Waterfront Renewal will be the new face of Townsville and work toward building Australia’s most liveable regional city.

Three catalytic Precincts were highlighted for the Treasurer including a new Entertainment Centre, boardwalks and bridges, as well as the importance of the Great Barrier Reef (Reef HQ) Aquarium Precinct.

North Queensland Health and Masterplan Priorities

$300 million for a new state-of-the-art Charters Towers Hospital.
$20 million to establish the NQ Spinal Unit. Acute spinal services are currently only provided in Brisbane.
$30 million for a new integrated health care centre on Magnetic Island.
$21 million for upgrades for Ayr and Ingham Hospital to provide local CT scanning (Ayr) and improved emergency services closer to home reducing transfers to Townsville University Hospital.
$5 million for the installation of a robotic pharmacy solution.

Hon Meaghan Scanlon MP: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works

Housing

$150 million of the housing investment fund to be allocated to North Queensland for infrastructure that will enable new housing investments by Councils and developers.
$20 million for the housing investment fund to be specifically allocated to Townsville inner-city high-density developments.
Unlocking state-owned land for housing developments.

Hon Bart Mellish: MP Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services

Enabling Townsville's Southern Industrial Corridor Infrastructure

Townsville is Australia's home of green manufacturing with an annual economic impact of $2.1 billion, 5,809 construction jobs, and 2,100 ongoing jobs. To unlock those opportunities in our city, we need the following enabling infrastructure:

Townsville Port Expansion Stage 2 - $300 million for rock wall construction and dredging works.
Flinders Highway Upgrades - The Flinders Highway is one of the most important national economic freight routes in the country. Carrying the goods and minerals to the Port of Townsville and supporting industries that contribute almost $6 billion to our nation’s GDP every year.

Hon Glenn Butcher MP: Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water

Water Security

Big Rocks Weir - $60 million for the delivery in Charters Towers.
RegenAqua Hinchinbrook Water Treatment Plant - $9 million to establish facilities in the Hinchinbrook Shire.
Enhancing the Burdekin River System - Support for the Channel Enhancement and Modernisation project to improve the open earth water distribution channels to recover water losses in the Burdekin Irrigation Area.

Hon Michael Healy MP: Minister for Tourism and Sport

Tourism Growth

Waterfront Redevelopment
Magnetic Island Koala Hospital - $3.5 million to develop a visitor-facing Koala Hospital.
Paluma to Wallaman Falls Trail - $46.9 million for project planning, management and development to meet the staged business case.
Palm Island Tourism Masterplan Investment - $6.9 million for tourism infrastructure and development on Palm Island.
Tourism and Destination Marketing Funding - for every $1 the State Government invests into Townsville Enterprise for destination marketing, $39+ in visitor spend is generated. Tourism marketing funding is critical to building destination awareness, growing our visitor economy and generating economic outcomes.

Hon Leanne Linard MP: Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation

Innovation and Science Industry Development

Townsville’s tropical Intelligence and Health Precinct is a collaboration initiative focused on fostering research, innovation and commercialisation in the tropical, health and defence sector and will deliver 5,000 new economy jobs to support our future.

$55 million for critical enabling infrastructure to establish Northern Australia’s biggest research precinct.

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