TEL and the region’s Mayors are in Brisbane this week for the Townsville North Queensland State Delegation.
More than 12 meetings have been secured with Ministers and advisors across several portfolios, as well as the Opposition.
Townsville Enterprise CEO, Claudia Brumme-Smith said following the announcement of CopperString 2032, a new set of priorities have been identified to deliver this important project.
“Solving the region’s housing crisis, workforce and skills attraction will be at the top of our agenda,” Mrs Brumme-Smith said.
“For the region to be able to deliver major projects, like CopperString and with a rental vacancy rate of below one per cent we need to act now to build new dwellings to support our current population base and future demand.”
Mayor of Townsville, Cr Jenny Hill said the delegation communicates the strengths of the entire region.
“North Queensland is the key to the growth of the State and the country,” Mayor Hill said.
“Townsville has just been voted in Australia’s top 10 most liveable cities, we are the events and sports capital for North Queensland and an investment hotspot for emerging sustainable, research and eco-industrial industries.
“We need continued government support to realise our potential and we will continue to fight for the region’s fair share.”
Mayor of the Burdekin Shire and Chair of the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NQROC), Cr Lyn McLaughin said we get better results together and that’s exactly what we will do this week with the State.
“We know who we are, we know the opportunities and we know the growth that we can deliver for Queensland and Australia,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
Mayor of Charters Towers, Cr Frank Beveridge said water security remains top of mind for the future of the region.
“We need to see the Federal Government and the State Government on the same page for water security for North Queensland. We need a long-term plan,” Mayor Beveridge said.
“CopperString will bring jobs and population growth and just as important as housing, we will need water to support this.”
Mayor of Hinchinbrook, Cr Ramon Jayo said skills and workforce shortage is a major concern for North Queensland.
“We need to plan for the future and we need talent to help us grow. Regional areas like ours are desperate for people that want to work and be part of our communities. We are a multicultural community here in the North and we will welcome new people from all backgrounds,” Mayor Jayo said.
