Central Regional Organisation of Councils

2020 State Election Campaign

Central Queensland truly is the industrial The region’s major agricultural production epicenter of the State. occurs in the Banana Shire and Central Within its boundaries are a world-ranked Highlands Regional Council areas with lucerne producer and exporter of black coal and two and cotton the key products. of the world’s largest alumina refineries; The Central Highlands, part of the larger Australian’s largest aluminium smelter; region known as the ‘’, is home to Australia’s largest cement plant; three numerous coal mines due to the rich mineral Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant projects; and deposits in the area. the state’s largest multi-commodity shipping Coal is extracted from the mines and port in Gladstone – which produces 40% of transported to port facilities at the Port of Queensland’s export earnings. Gladstone via the Blackwater railway system or Queensland’s largest power station is located to both Hay Point in Mackay and Abbot Point in Gladstone with additional electricity capacity north of Bowen via the Goonyella railway line. produced at Stanwell Power Station, west of The coastal hubs of this region provide the Rockhampton, and Callide Power Station at gateway to the southern Great Barrier Reef Biloela. Their combined output contributes and several Islands including: Great Keppel 40% of the state’s power generation. Island, off the Capricorn Coast; and Heron Rockhampton is the service centre for the Island, Wilson Island and Lady Musgrave Island region and known as the ‘Beef Capital’ of off the Gladstone and Discovery Coasts. Australia with three abattoirs in the region. The Regional One of the world’s largest magnesia plants is Organisation of Councils (CQROC) covers the located to the north of Rockhampton. main centres of Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Banana Shire is also home to the Biloela Emerald, Gladstone, Biloela and Woorabinda meatworks, which is the third largest in and is a region renowned as a key resource, Queensland. industrial and agricultural hub. CQROC is working together with a collective south-east Queensland. goal to build upon these solid mining, industrial Sealing of vital west-east transport link and agricultural pillars and asks that its goal be The Springsure-Tambo Road link connect included in the 2020 State Election Campaign. premium organic and grass-fed livestock from To guide future development CQROC backgrounding to feedlot to abattoir. The sub- launched a priority project proposal earlier this standard condition of the road jeopardies year – Reef to Red Ridge. marketing opportunities, extends travel time The projects listed in this proposal are not and animal fatigue, creates dust hazards and only instrumental to the ongoing prosperity compromises the condition of this high value and growth of the Central Queensland Region, livestock commodity. but would contribute greatly to the State Rejunvenate Great Keppel Island economy. Deliver backbone infrastructure for common- These priority projects are: user power, water and telecommunications Freight arteries to the Port of Gladstone services to provide a catalyst for tourism and An A-double heavy vehicle freight corridor economic growth on Great Keppel Island. from Central and Western Queensland to Attract major events to the Yeppoon foreshore the east coast will unblock the economic The Keppel Bay Convention and Sporting Hub development freight arterties to the Port of project proposed for Yeppoon is a catalytic Gladstone. tourism and industy attraction project that Secure a Central Queensland water supply will deliver the first one thousand-plus seat Construction of additional water storages convention centre in the Central Queensland along the Dawson River, with consideration region. given to the Nathan Dam proposal or additional weirs at key locations along the More detailed specifics of each of these river. Additional water storages will provide projects can be viewed in the Reef to Red Ridge a long-term, reliable water supply to mining, - Central Queensland, Economic Intersection power, urban and agricultural customers in publication. Central Queensland. Yamala Enterprise Area Success for the multi-million dollar Yamala Enterprise Area in the Central Highlands depends on a safe, functional network of feeder roads from the region’s south. link to the Port of Gladstone Linking the inland rail to the Port of Gladstone will unlock long-term regional economic benefits and improve road safety while reducing land and sea transport congestion in