Townsville Enterprise together with the mayors of Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, and Townsville are taking a digital delegation to Canberra this week, pitching for enabling infrastructure projects to key government and shadow ministers ahead of the Federal budget and election in coming months.
Townsville Enterprise together with the mayors of Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, and Townsville are taking a digital delegation to Canberra this week, pitching for enabling infrastructure projects to key government and shadow ministers ahead of the Federal Budget and federal election in coming months.
The 4-day long delegation will see more than 20 meetings across key portfolios including infrastructure, investment, energy, trade, defence, small business, and innovation. In the past these delegations have helped our region to secure more than $3B in government funding for our region. Whilst a physical delegation was not possible this year due to Covid closure of parliament house, the ability to host a virtual event means that a clear and united message will still be delivered to Canberra.
The 2022 Unlock the North Budget Submission document, developed in conjunction with the North Queensland Region of Councils and the business community, outlines a series of key projects that will help deliver future opportunities and security for the people and communities of North Queensland, while continuing to deliver economic outcomes for the state and national economies.
The delegation will focus on critical infrastructure projects that secure affordable power and water for the region, business enablers such as insurance, banking, housing and skills, future industry opportunities in green hydrogen and critical minerals, and innovation and technology projects that take advantage of our businesses, their workforce and technology capabilities in the region.
Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said that North Queensland has established a track record of punching well above its weight, and the key message this week is that by funding the right projects across North Queensland today, the federal Government is securing outcomes for the future of Australia and a good return of their investment.
“Without our region’s key industries such as Agriculture, Mining, Minerals Processing, Defence and Health, the national economy would look very different today – our region punched well above its weight to help the locked down economies in the South of the country,” said Ms Brumme-Smith.
“So now is the time for us to be looking ahead and securing the infrastructure and key projects that will deliver prosperity to the people and communities of North Queensland tomorrow, while providing that solid base to the state and national economies that we have done so effectively over the last two years while the nation has been dealing with the fallout from the COVID pandemic.”
“There are more than $740 billion worth of untapped commodities along the North West minerals province waiting for affordable and secure power supply, a capacity to develop an irrigated cropping industry worth around a billion dollars along the Mount Isa to Townsville supply chain, and access to the world’s best wind and solar resources on our doorstep that we desperately need here in Townsville to progress advanced manufacturing and affordable refining of critical minerals.”
“Green hydrogen is absolutely booming toward full scale commercialisation both here and overseas, and with it comes opportunities for Townsville and Australia to secure valuable export markets as the global energy mix continues to decarbonise over the coming decades.”
Townsville City Council Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said that along with project funding requests, the delegation would be seeking commitments from Government to consider investing into new and advanced manufacturing industries and policy and position matters that were restricting progress in North Queensland.
“There are a number of challenges for businesses across North Queensland, like access to financial services and public liability insurance,” Cr Hill said.
“Without access to these basics in place there is a handbrake on progress in the regions.
“We are also seeking an understanding of where the funding is relating to the Townsville City Deal and the major projects that have been identified as being critical to the region’s long term economic prosperity.”
Burdekin Shire Mayor and Chair of the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils Cr Lyn McLaughlin said with the right policy framework around business enablers like insurance and banking, energy, and a commitment to enabling infrastructure, North Queensland can drive population growth and increase private investment.
“We have seen positive outcome from the cyclone reinsurance pool in recent weeks, but there are still a number of fundamental challenges for businesses across North Queensland, like access to financial services and public liability insurance,” Cr McLaughlin said.
“With the right fundamentals in place the north will be able to do even more to develop and attract the skills and population base we need to lever our natural strengths for the benefit of the nation,” she said.
