The Queensland Government has released a strategy for North West Queensland with $2 million to attract investment and deliver jobs in resources, agriculture, tourism, business and industry.
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Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said the North West Queensland Economic Diversification Strategy was the result of extensive collaboration and consultation with regional stakeholders and community and will be backed by an implementation plan to quickly deliver outcomes.
"Key supply chain and value-adding industries in Townsville and surrounding regions are of strategic importance to the North West Minerals Province," Mr Dick said.
"Mineral resources will remain the region's primary industry but to counter commodity cycle impacts, as well as severe weather events, the strategy outlines new ways to enhance the investment environment, boost supply chains and sustain thriving communities."
Mr Dick said the North West held many metals needed for electric and hybrid vehicles, lithium batteries, wind turbine generators and solar panels and feedback on the draft strategy was local government, industry and residents were keen to see new projects rolled out as soon as possible.
"Today (Tuesday) we are announcing funding for energy, agriculture and tourism projects that will lay the groundwork for a diversified economy of optimism and opportunity," he said.
In the energy sector, the state government is allocating $1.68 million towards energy supply and transmission projects, including $1.18 million to Copperstring 2.0 to support its one billion dollar project and $500,000 to work with stakeholders to develop opportunities for new common user electricity infrastructure
In Agriculture there will be $600,000 investment into catalytic projects including fodder production and ongoing irrigated cropping trials and identification of co-investment opportunities for common user facilities and the development of a targeted program for global investment attraction
In tourism there is $150,000 for planning and design work to expand and upgrade Australia's premier marine fossil museum Kronosaurus Korner and fossil sites at Richmond; planning and design work to develop visitor infrastructure at Porcupine Gorge National Park at Hughenden; and to deliver a Mount lsa/Camooweal to Lawn Hill/Riversleigh tourism masterplan.
Mr Dick said these projects followed on from the approval of the 15 Mile Irrigated Agriculture Project at Hughenden and the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project.
"We also reduced rail access charges on the Mount Isa Line by $80 million over four years and are supporting the development of a new common user multi modal container terminal at the Port of Townsville, that will improve the efficiency of freight movement across the network," he said.
"These investments complement our commitment of $380 million over five years to maintain and improve the line, making the freight journey faster and more reliable."
Mr Dick saod the Palaszczuk government has also deferred royalties from New Century through the Resources Regional Development Framework.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
