Published Saturday, 30 December, 2006 at 12:00 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT RELEASES NORTHERN ECONOMIC TRIANGLE BLUEPRINT TO BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION
Premier Peter Beattie has encouraged Townsville, Mount Isa and Bowen residents to have their say on economic development in the north when he released the Northern Economic Triangle Blueprint for stakeholder and public comment today.
Mr Beattie said the aim of the blueprint, an election commitment, was to maximise the economic potential of Mount Isa and Townsville and to develop a new industrial precinct at Bowen by creating an environment for private sector investment and growth.
“The release today of the Northern Economic Triangle Blueprint establishes the strategic intent to provide critical infrastructure to underpin private sector investment in industrial development and minerals processing over the course of the next half century,”Mr Beattie said.
“We are making sure we do all we can to realise the region’s potential at a time when there is strong international demand for minerals and metals from the rapidly expanding economies of China and India,” Mr Beattie said.
“Importantly, we are also making sure that we meet the continuing demand for sensible long-term planning over the next half century so we also protect the quality of life that is an essential part of living in Queensland.
“The Mount Isa, Townsville and Bowen triangle has the potential to become one of the world’s great export zones,” Premier Beattie said.
“The region has already generated some of the most impressive industrial development in Australia’s recent history with its world scale mines and minerals processing plants.
“What the Northern Economic Triangle Blueprint allows us to do is to build on these achievements by creating a Smart State business framework for accelerated economic growth, one that builds on the competitive advantages of the region.
“Competitive advantages comprise internationally significant mineral resources, world scale processing plants, support industries and infrastructure including suitable land for industry to grow and expand.
“The blueprint provides critical infrastructure strategies by partnering with private sector investments, a successful formula for delivery of infrastructure previously applied to Gladstone and Australia TradeCoast.
“Today Gladstone is an international location for major industry development in the 21st Century and Australia TradeCoast is the fastest growing industry and trade precinct in Australia.
“Now we want to do the same for North Queensland and North West Queensland.”
The stakeholder and public consultation period for the blueprint ends on 30 March 2007.
Copies of the Northern Economic Blueprint can be downloaded from
www.coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au/infrastructure/net.shtm or telephone (07) 3224 7570.
Written comments can be sent to: The Northern Economic Triangle Taskforce, The Coordinator-General, PO Box 15009, City East Qld 4002.
Media inquiries: Premier’s office 3224 4500
30 December 2006
Mr Beattie said the aim of the blueprint, an election commitment, was to maximise the economic potential of Mount Isa and Townsville and to develop a new industrial precinct at Bowen by creating an environment for private sector investment and growth.
“The release today of the Northern Economic Triangle Blueprint establishes the strategic intent to provide critical infrastructure to underpin private sector investment in industrial development and minerals processing over the course of the next half century,”Mr Beattie said.
“We are making sure we do all we can to realise the region’s potential at a time when there is strong international demand for minerals and metals from the rapidly expanding economies of China and India,” Mr Beattie said.
“Importantly, we are also making sure that we meet the continuing demand for sensible long-term planning over the next half century so we also protect the quality of life that is an essential part of living in Queensland.
“The Mount Isa, Townsville and Bowen triangle has the potential to become one of the world’s great export zones,” Premier Beattie said.
“The region has already generated some of the most impressive industrial development in Australia’s recent history with its world scale mines and minerals processing plants.
“What the Northern Economic Triangle Blueprint allows us to do is to build on these achievements by creating a Smart State business framework for accelerated economic growth, one that builds on the competitive advantages of the region.
“Competitive advantages comprise internationally significant mineral resources, world scale processing plants, support industries and infrastructure including suitable land for industry to grow and expand.
“The blueprint provides critical infrastructure strategies by partnering with private sector investments, a successful formula for delivery of infrastructure previously applied to Gladstone and Australia TradeCoast.
“Today Gladstone is an international location for major industry development in the 21st Century and Australia TradeCoast is the fastest growing industry and trade precinct in Australia.
“Now we want to do the same for North Queensland and North West Queensland.”
The stakeholder and public consultation period for the blueprint ends on 30 March 2007.
Copies of the Northern Economic Blueprint can be downloaded from
www.coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au/infrastructure/net.shtm or telephone (07) 3224 7570.
Written comments can be sent to: The Northern Economic Triangle Taskforce, The Coordinator-General, PO Box 15009, City East Qld 4002.
Media inquiries: Premier’s office 3224 4500
30 December 2006