Mayor McCulloch described Mount Isa as “the city of opportunity” as council endorsed a plan to fix the problems of declining mining activity.
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Mining has been the cornerstone of the local economy for almost 100 years.
But the region is now facing a period of significant uncertainty, Mount Isa mayor Joyce McCulloch said.
She says it is time for the town to get behind new industries to secure its economic future as Council endorsed its Economic Development Strategy on Wednesday.
The three year strategy details 30 ways Mount Isa can boost its economy.
“Over the next three years, we’ll be rolling up our sleeves and opening our doors to expand existing industries and create new opportunities both real and yet to be imagined,” Cr McCulloch said.
“Mining will always be a cornerstone, but to truly prosper we need to diversify and I am certain those opportunities exist.”
Here are some of council’s key plans:
Transport hub
The proposed transport and logistics centre will take advantage of Mount Isa’s relatively abundant and low-cost land.
It is anticipated that the centre will provide for increased connectivity and competition across transportation modes.
The centre will be subject to a pre-feasibility study.
Building an international mining museum
In six years, Mount Isa will celebrate 100 years of mining in the world’s largest minerals province, and in one of the longest running and largest mines.
Council will form a committee to explore the possibility of opening “a global-scale international museum of mining by 2023”.
Open a flying school
A Townsville based flying school has already lodged an expression of interest to open a campus in Mount Isa.
“This could potentially bring hundreds of training pilots, from Australia and overseas, to learn to fly in Mount Isa, which would increase demand for accommodation, airport services, engineering services, fuel and so on,” the report said.
Go Gas
The Mount Isa City Council could push for the acceleration of shale gas exploration.
The report suggests shale gas will become a major Australian industry in the next 10 years.
“It may be important to position Mount Isa to take advantage of technological progress and appropriate market conditions by completing the necessary research and exploration,” the council report said.
Adopt a Chinese sister city
Council plans to adopt a sister city in China to engage more foreign tourists and investors.
“It would be a useful avenue for building friendships, networks and business contacts, attracting investment, promoting tourism and inbound education, and assisting in market and trade development,” the report said.
Full list:
Leading
- North West Minerals Provinve Strategic Blueprint — Council to act as implementing partner
- Inter-governmental coordination committee for Mount Isa — Council to establish this safeguard and progress the future of Mount Isa
- Mount Isa infrastructure coordinator — Council to establish this position to work across mining companies
- Encourage publicly funded temporary co-investment support for MIM
- Tennant Creek to Townsville Economic Development Corridor– Council to work with other governments to establish and lead this
- Mount Isa to Wallumbilla gas pipeline — Council to facilitate private investment to bring northern gas to the east coast
- Council to lead the 2019 Developing Northern Australia Forum in Mount Isa
Partnering
- MIM-Council Joint Mount Isa Development Committee
- The International Mining Museum 2023
- Partner with JCU and TAFE institutions on Mount Isa METS (Mining School) expertise development program
- Japanese agricultural investment attraction
- North West Minerals Province Resource database
- Council to create an Overlander Way Central Transit Point and Program
- Tennant Creek to Mount Isa cross-border commission
Diversifying
- Establish Mount Isa transport and logistics centre
- Help establish a Mount Isa campus of a North Queensland Flying School
- De-risk investment with an aquaculture feasibility study
- Northern Australia caravan and camper safety check
- Analyse Value of a new Mount Isa gas hub
Expanding
- Examine prospective pyrite production project
- Irrigated agriculture expansion initiatives
- Gas exploration acceleration project
- Assess the idea of facilitation of a market led proposal to connect to the state electricity grid
- Creation of an investor prospectus
Positioning for the Future
- Increase control and value for money in service delivery
- Advocate for main roads funding for beef
- Act on the price of water if it is assessed to be too high
- Examine the competitiveness of Mount Isa airfare costs
- Natural environmental program
- Establishing a Sister City in China
