20 Year Plan for Maranoa

The State Government today released its blueprint to sustain the communities of the Maranoa region ahead of anticipated growth fuelled by the resources sector.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas and Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the Draft Maranoa and Districts Regional Plan, which would guide the area’s development over the next two decades, was now available for public comment.

“The Maranoa region is a vital part of the state’s future energy plans with its abundant reserves of coal seam gas, coal and oil, ” Mr Lucas said.

“It is also an important farming region with significant sheep and cattle production, dry land farming of grain and cereal crops and irrigated agriculture in the south.

“The Maranoa’s population of 25,000 residents is expected to grow slowly over the next 20 years.

“As well as opportunities, the resource and farming industries bring with them some challenges.

“It is vital we get the planning right for infrastructure, continuing to develop the region’s workforce and maintaining the lifestyle those living in the Maranoa cherish.”

Towns in the region have been classified to help Government’s plan how and where services and infrastructure should be located.

The four classifications in the Maranoa and Districts are Major Regional Activity Centre (Roma), Major Rural Activity Centres (Miles and St George), District Rural Activity Centres (Injune, Dirranbandi, Surat, Mitchell and Tara) and Community Activity Centres (Yuleba, Wallumbilla, Dulacca, Mungallala, Drillham, Bollon, Condamine, Thallon, Moonie, Amby, Hebel, Glenmorgan, Mungindi and Jackson).

“Roma will provide opportunities for future population growth fuelled by the energy resource sector,” said Mr Lucas.

“We may also see growth in smaller towns like Injune due to nearby gas and energy projects.

“The draft Maranoa and Districts Regional Plan will provide more certainty to residents and businesses on the provision of infrastructure and services.

“Councils can make sure their planning schemes are consistent with the State Government’s and have greater confidence in confronting the issues that are important to their region.”

The plan focuses on three key themes in response to challenges raised by representatives from local, state and federal governments, industry and community stakeholders:

• optimising new opportunities for growth afforded by development of energy resources
• building on the traditional economic strength of the region’s agriculture
• ensuring that the region’s liveability is maintained as communities change

Maranoa and Districts planning region covers 108,000 sq km across the existing local government areas of Roma Regional Council, Balonne Shire Council and western parts of the Dalby Regional Council.

The Draft Maranoa and Districts Regional Plan is one of four regional plans being developed in rural Queensland as part of the state’s Blueprint for the Bush program.

“The Blueprint for the Bush is our 10-year plan designed to develop the strengths of rural and regional communities in Queensland,” Mr Pitt said.

“These regional plans complement the Blueprint because they too recognise the challenges and opportunities for outback communities that are facing declining populations and an increasingly competitive global economy.

“They are an integral part of the Queensland Government’s priority and commitment to rural and regional Queensland.”

Public consultation meetings will take place in Mitchell, Roma, St George and Miles before the end of the submission period which closes on 29 October, 2008.

For further information on dates and locations for the public consultation meetings or for copies of the draft plan, phone 1300 724 051 or visit the Department of Infrastructure and Planning website at www.dip.qld.gov.au

Media inquiries:

Deputy Premier: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868, Matt Klar 0437 435 223

Local Government Minister: 3227 8851