Premier brings jobs committee to Charters Towers

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has delivered on her commitment to bring her Government’s Working Queensland Cabinet Committee to Charters Towers.

Ministers attending included:

• Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
• Treasurer, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Sport Curtis Pitt
• Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman
• Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke
• Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Grace Grace

“I promised I’d be a Government for all Queenslanders, which is why my jobs committee has travelled throughout regional Queensland looking for job creating opportunities,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“My Government is willing to work with Councils, communities and corporate Queensland to create jobs.

“By taking my jobs committee to regional centres, I can hear first-hand from local stakeholders about potential opportunities for state investment and ideas for facilitating private sector investment.

“Fundamentally it’s about boosting employment.

“I want regional Queensland to thrive. I know many of these communities are doing it tough, and while I can’t bring back a mining boom or bring drought-breaking rain with me, my Government can do everything it can to help diversify regional economies.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she was in regular contact with Dalrymple MP Shane Knuth.

“Shane is always knocking on my door and my Ministers’ doors, putting forward the views of the people in his electorate.

“I share his concerns around job creation and I look forward to working with him on these issues into the future.”

The Premier said the Committee not only discussed new opportunities, but also the potential to join together with the Federal Government on the Northern Australia Roads programme.

“Yesterday in the parliament I released the Queensland’s Government’s submission to the Federal Government’s Northern Australia Roads Programme.

“We made this submission late last year, and unfortunately haven’t heard back.

“One of our top priorities includes the Flinders Highway between Charters Towers and Townsville, Hughenden and Cloncurry.

“But we can’t do it alone. We need the Federal Liberal Government to stop talking about investing in Northern Australia and start delivering.

“Led by Minister O’Rourke and Roads Minister Mark bailey, the Government will work with local councils to lobby the Federal Government for these funds to be unlocked as soon as possible.”

Background

Northern Australia Roads Programme

The Palaszczuk Government has released a list of 25 projects it is seeking funding from the Australian Government’s Northern Australia Roads Programme to drive further growth and jobs across the State.

The Government’s submission focused on key freight routes, such as the Flinders, Landsborough, Gregory, Peak Downs and Capricorn highways and the Gregory Developmental Road. It also included projects and packages in and around regional centres - Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Emerald and Mount Isa – as well as regional roads connecting communities across northern Queensland, including the progressive sealing of sections of the Hann Highway over the next five years.”

Key projects included:

• Cape River bridge upgrade and pavement widening for the Gregory Developmental Road (Belyando Crossing – Charters Towers)
• pavement widening for Gregory Developmental Road (Charters Towers to The Lynd); and
• overtaking lanes, heavy vehicle safety and productivity package for the Flinders Highway (Townsville and Charters Towers)

Building Our Regions

The Committee highlighted the opportunities for local councils to propose shovel-ready infrastructure projects for the next $70 million round of the Building Our Regions program.
Applications for the current round close on April 29.

Under the previous round, funded projects in the local region included the Charters Towers Effluent Reuse Upgrades $1.6 million project, with a contribution of $800,000 from the Building Our Regions program, will increase the capabilities of the Charters Towers Sewage Treatment Plant to improve the quality of the effluent reuse. It will include installation of an online chlorine analyser and flow paced chlorine re-dosing system, located adjacent to the existing pump station. The current effluent network is at capacity, therefore the project also includes an increase in effluent reuse opportunities within Charters Towers, with an installation of a new pump station and rising main to expand the effluent network;

State Infrastructure Fund

The $500 million State Infrastructure Fund released with the State Infrastructure Fund, included $180 million for the Significant Regional Infrastructure Projects Program to deliver regionally significant infrastructure projects identified by communities, create jobs and grow Queensland’s economy.

The Significant Regional Infrastructure Projects Program is in addition to the $200 million Building Our Regions program.

During consultation on the SIP, the following projects were highlighted for further investigation for the Mount Isa region:

• Mount Isa to Townsville Rail Corridor upgrade project;
• Kennedy Developmental Road (Hann Highway) sealing;
• connecting remote communities through optic fibre technology;
• improve drive tourism support infrastructure; and
• long distance coach infrastructure.