The Federal Government hopes the meeting will focus on nation-building infrastructure as well as constitutional recognition for local government.

The northern alliance of mayors, which Cr Molony is a member of, plans to lobby the government for an ambitious list of infrastructure projects, which were finalised by the group at a meeting last month.

Upgrades of the Townsville to Mount Isa transmission line and railway line were among the list of projects the group will fight for.

The alliance, consisting of mayors from Mackay to the Gulf, was formed earlier this year in the belief that forming a regional alliance would create greater lobbying power at the summit.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese was expected to reveal the details of a stimulus package today, based on a report released earlier this month.

The government hoped the package would assist the delivery of quality-of-life infrastructure.

“We also know that through local government is a good way to create local jobs and also create a stimulus in local economies,” he said.

Townsville Mayor Les Tyrell, who has been instrumental in the formation of the mayor’s alliance, has said North Queensland largely subsidised South East Queensland and major capital cities yet received little funding for vital infrastructure projects.

“It is essential that North Queensland receives a future commitment to infrastructure funding that makes better use of northern revenues currently used to enhance southern city lifestyles,” Cr Tyrell said in March.

Cr Molony refused to make a statement to The North West Star about his desired outcomes from the summit as he departed for Canberra, however, he did acknowledge the importance of the meeting.