TREASURER Tim Nicholls can’t make a promise to the North West that the region will receive a share of funding from the state government’s asset-leasing proposal.
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Much-needed infrastructure to boost projects in the resource-rich North West was put forward at a MITEZ (Mount Isa to Townsville economic development zone) meeting in Richmond last week.
Infrastructure to support industries such as water storage, energy and transport were on the wish-list.
Mr Nicholls confirmed that the development group had made a submission but stopped short of saying they would be successful in their attempts to secure funding.
“MITEZ is one of many groups to put forward suggestions for important infrastructure projects in Queensland’s regions,” he said.
“Should the government receive a mandate to proceed with its Strong Choices asset leasing plan, these projects will be considered on their merits for funding.”
The Mount Isa to Townsville rail line and Townsville port are on the list for long-term leasing.
Despite Mr Nicholl’s reluctance to give the North West any assurances, state member for Mount Isa Rob Katter said other regions such as Townsville had been given a more positive response.
“It is difficult to take the government seriously when it mentions ‘job creating infrastructure’ because after nearly three years in office this has meant commitment to an office building in Brisbane, another traffic tunnel and road upgrades to Toowoomba,” he said.
“Furthermore, the Treasurer was on the front page of the Townsville Bulletin saying that if you sold the port and rail lines, you could put in for more modern infrastructure like a sports stadium. Apart from the Toowoomba road, these are not what I would describe as job creating infrastructure.”
Mr Nicholls blamed the state’s debt problem as the reason the government was considering asset leasing.
“Our plan would allow us to pay down $25 billion in debt and leave $8.6 billion for job-creating infrastructure and $3.4 billion for cost of living relief,” he said.
”At the moment we are constrained from building the economically productive infrastructure that our state needs because we have to pay $4 billion a year in interest payments. Our Strong Choices plan is a plan to put the state on a sound financial footing and build a brighter future for Queensland.”
