Developed with Townsville, Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, and Palm Island councils, the 2021 submission outlines how the Commonwealth can fast-track support to ramp up private investment and jobs in North Queensland. Interim CEO Wade Chiesa said COVID-19 had illustrated how important the North was to the nation’s economy. “Without the region’s key industries such as agriculture, mining, minerals processing, defence and health, the national economy would look much different today,” Mr Chiesa said.The budget submission includes a strong pipeline of nation-building projects to help North Queensland boost the nation’s economy.
Mr Chiesa said with the right policy framework around insurance, energy and taxation, and a commitment to enabling infrastructure, North Queensland could drive population growth and increase private investment.“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,” he said.This is what Townsville Enterprise is advocating for: ENABLING THE NORTHTownsville Enterprise is pushing for major change in insurance, with key concerns to be addressed in home and contents, vehicle and public liability insurance. It also looks to lower the cost of energy in the North. It wants to connect Townsville to the National Gas Network, invest in battery production, and advance hydrogen as an alternative fuel source. AGRICULTURE, MINERALS AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
CopperString 2.0 is key to the expansion of the North West Minerals Province and commitment for further life-long support for the project. TEL is also looking for investment in the Mount Isa to Townsville supply chain, including the development of the Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor. Support for major water infrastructure projects to strengthen the North West Queensland Water Supply is also sought. The organisation is completing a business case into the construction of Hells Gates Irrigation Scheme and is looking for more support to make this project happen. It also needs the federal government’s approval to complete the business case into the Hells Gates Pumped Storage. $50m is needed for the essential construction of access roads, rail and water infrastructure for the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct. The region also needs more than $28m in funding for the creation of a Hydrogen Hub in Townsville. Almost $10m in funding is needed for the Burdekin Shire Council to develop Ayr Industrial Land and the Ayr Macro-algae Bioremediation Demonstration. $750,000 is needed for the infrastructure to underpin and progress the diversification of Hinchinbrook’s agricultural industry. The Tropical Aquaculture Accelerator, which needs $67m in funding, would continue the region’s efforts in aquaculture. DEFENCETEL is advocating for Townsville to be the priority training and simulation centre. It is pushing for Townsville to be the ideal spot for an amphibious mounting base for operations in the Pacific region. Capitalising on the already expanding international training initiatives in Townsville, TEL believes the North could help boost Australia’s defence diplomacy and regional cooperation. HEALTH, KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH
TropiQ is a tropical intelligence and health precinct development. It is anticipated that $10m is needed for the investigation and planning phase, with an additional $280m in stages after that. TEL is advocating for the STEM Booster Program which would need a $7.5m investment over four years. The NQ ICT Centre of Excellence is designed to grow the information and communication technology workforce in North Queensland through partnerships between government and private providers. It will cost $40m over five years to do this. Some $30m is needed to expand the Royal Flying Doctor Service base in Townsville. TEL hopes to improve communications between key sites in Townsville like the CBD, The Strand and the new Lansdown precinct with Townsville Connect. This is a $6m investment for the re-establishment of a 10G network. DESTINATION DEVELOPMENTTEL hopes to secure $1m to drive the visitor economy recovery with targeted campaigns to southeast Queensland to rebuild tourism through destination marketing. It is also advocating for policy levers to support tourism and hospitality COVID-19 recovery. The N
orthern Australia Cultural Precinct would be an essential hub for concerts and visual arts in the region. This would cost $292m over five years. It is searching for an additional $40m for Reef HQ developments. Funding and support is needed for the development of trails in North Queensland.
Townsville Airport upgrades need to go ahead with $8.2m in funding needed to complete infrastructure and associated building works. An additional $1.5m is needed to complete terminal design. $5m is needed for capital works, dredging, rockwall and beach replenishment at Dungeness as part of the marine access upgrades.
TEL is also pushing for international flights from New Zealand and Singapore to Townsville. A figure of $50,000 is needed to get basic service supply to the Wongaloo Conservation Park with power and telephone connection needed and access to be improved. And $30m is sought to support the construction of stages two and three of a retail and commercial precinct on Palm Island.
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