Federal Election Priorities
Big Rocks Weir
Drought Flying Fox Assistance Management
Roads Our Fair Infrastructure Share
Defence
Tele- comms
Proposed Big Rocks Weir Site
i) water security (Big I thank you for your time Foreword Rocks Weir); and welcome your The Charters Towers ii) funding reviews; support. Region is actively seeking iii) a coordinated to identify mechanisms approach to flying foxes; that will stimulate local iv) commitment to local economic activity and employment and; v) infrastructure investment, generating upgrades are not simple sustainable employment to achieve for a small for this generation and rural Council and do the next, along with require your support. ensuring our community remains a liveable place Our number one for our young and old. opportunity right now is to ensure the Big Rocks To achieve this, our Weir project converts to Council has taken a job generation for our ‘back-to-basics’ Region and it is my approach in articulating Council’s intention to federal election priorities. maximise this We are requesting the opportunity and deliver Federal Government’s upon this objective. consideration on I am determined that fundamental projects and Charters Towers initiatives that enable Regional Council and our growth of both regional partners remain traditional and innovative influential through the Cr Liz Schmidt industries in a sustainable Business Case and Mayor manner. development process, Though basic in nature, ensuring local interests our requests for: are prioritised.
6 Defence 1 Big Rocks Weir
Greenvale 3 Flying Fox Management 7 Telecommunications
Charters Towers 5 Our Fair Share
Ravenswood
Pentland
4 Transport Infrastructure 2 Drought Assistance
Our Region at a Glance
Area 68,366.9kms2* Total Regional Area Population
11,968 residents*
$
Employment Gross Regional Product $629 million 5,181 jobs* Top industries of Employment • Education and Training 15.4% • Health Care and Social Assistance 12.4% • Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery 11.9% Our Economic Pillars • Mining 10.5%
Mining Agriculture Education Tourism •Gold •Silver •2,000,000+ cattle •Three Top 20 •$54million •Zinc •Marble in wider region Schools;^ avg spend per # •Copper •Tin •Council operated • Recognised year •Lead •Tungsten sale yards education centre (3 •Nickel x Private Colleges; 1 x •Scandium State High School; 3 •Cobalt State Schools + School of Distance Education)
*ABS Census 2016. ^Three Top 20 Schools in wider Townsville North Queensland Region, ‘Townsville Bulletin,’ 20 February 2018. #www.tra.gov.au
1 Big Rocks Weir Water security and irrigated agriculture The realisation of Big Rocks Weir would both provide long-term water security to our community and trigger the development of up to 5,000ha of irrigated agricultural land in close proximity to the river, creating over 400 FTE valuable local jobs post construction.1
Recommendation findings of the study defined that the $5.35B ~ Charters Towers Regional Council be greenfield agriculture development proposal is appointed as the project management economically viable, with a Benefit-Cost Ratio proponents of the Big Rocks Weir Project. (BCR) of between 1.4 and 0.68 and the potential to contribute up to $1.3B to North The Issue Queensland’s GRP annually. The Charters Towers Region requires water security to: The completed Hells Gates Dam Feasibility • develop prime agricultural land to open up Study identifies a clear staged path to opportunities: development with the systems most southern - for intensive farming; weir (Big Rocks) being identified as a natural - increased export trade through Townsville first Phase (1) pilot. Port; - for supply chains and processing hub at $50M was committed to this first phase of Charters Towers given location at the development in November 2018. crossroads (highways and railway – inland port); The Solution - increase employment opportunities both To maintain project continuity, momentum and direct and indirect; meet regional stakeholder and community - for tourism experiences directly linked to timeline expectations, it is recommended the agricultural activities; and Federal Government consider reengaging the - to help feed Australia. TEL / SMEC Feasibility Study consortia to • ensure water security in Charters Towers to: deliver the ‘Business Case’ process and appoint - adequately support residential growth and Charters Towers Regional Council to construct future commercial and industrial the project. development as a direct result of the agricultural opportunities and indirect This existing consortia is best placed to fast tourism opportunities. track and initiate the proposed next Phase 1 program. TEL / SMEC would be in a position to mobilise and commence initial field work as Background early as February 2019. Pending early findings The Federally funded $2.2M Hells Gates Dam of the ‘Business Case’ process, it is envisaged Feasibility Study, led by Townsville Enterprise Charters Towers Regional Council could Limited (TEL) and conducted by SMEC commence construction of Big Rocks Weir by Holdings Ltd, was completed in July 2018. The 2022.
1 Hells Grate Dam Feasibility Study, Townsville Enterprise and SMEC Holdings Ltd.
Proposed Big Rocks Weir Site
2 Drought Assistance A coordinated approach Charters Towers Regional Council support the Local Government Association of Queensland’s statement that “It is time all levels of government took a more strategic view of what is and is likely to remain, the fiercest challenge that regional communities across Australia face.” 2
Recommendation Background ~ The Federal and State Governments adopt a The Charters Towers Region has been partly or bipartisan, coordinated and whole-of- wholly drought declared since 2013. In 2018, part government response to the impacts of of the region’s drought declaration was revoked ongoing drought in Queensland communities. however 45.7% of the region remains drought declared. The Issue With agriculture currently a key economic pillar The Solution for the Charters Towers Region, and marked for Adopt a strong policy platform with a more expansion with the development of Big Rocks insightful and responsive approach to drought Weir, ensuring the industry remains viable is a policy, which considers the impact on regional central challenge of serving the wider economies, the level of assistance required by community. primary producers and landholders and the role local government plays in securing our communities against ongoing threats such as drought.
2 Councils back comprehensive policies on drought, www.lgaq.asn.au/updates , 31 October 2018
3 Flying Fox Management A whole-of-government approach Since 2001, Charters Towers Regional Council has tried almost every trick in the book to encourage flying foxes to move on from the centre of Charters Towers.3
Recommendation This event forced the closure of Charters ~ Provide support to undertake measures to Towers’ only public swimming pool and premier reduce the significant impact on our parks, Lissner and Centenary, (with Lissner Park community, including change in legislation for still closed due to resulting damage), the closure the State Government to take complete of C&K Charters Towers Community responsibility for flying fox management. Kindergarten for three days and other real and perceived impacts. The event received, and The Issue continues to receive, global media attention. Increasing numbers of flying foxes are significantly impacting our community Subsequently, Charters Towers Regional economically and environmentally as well as Council is leading the way to explore future reducing the quality of life of our residents. flying fox management strategies by collaborating with the State Government, Background CSIRO and a variety of local stakeholders. Charters Towers and Ravenswood experienced a significant flying fox event in December 2017, The Solution resulting in excess of 200,000 flying foxes in the Commit to continued and ongoing support of centre of Charters Towers during the peak. Charters Towers Regional Council to develop sustainable solutions.
3 www.charterstowers.qld.gov.au/ffac
4 Transport Infrastructure Key arterial upgrades Given our strategic location at the centre of a designated triple road train network, the Flinders Highway and Gregory Development Roads need essential upgrades to serve as an alternative North-South route to the Bruce Highway to service ongoing beef and agricultural trade and unlock pending economic development opportunities such as Defence Training and other emerging projects.
Recommendations does it give confidence for long-term retention 1. The Federal Government support long- of skilled workers and their families. term planning for strategic regional 2. Essential, identified upgrades on the freight and tourism routes through the Gregory Development Road are unable to be Region. completed due to inadequate funding. 2. The Federal Government Fund State- identified works on the Gregory The Solution Development Road that is currently 1. Federal Government use wider economic inadequately funded by the State. and social benefits analysis to inform and support decision making for investment The Issue decisions for roads in our regional area. 1. The Queensland Transport and Roads 2. Support the State application for upgrades Investment Program (QTRIP) provides regional via the Northern Development guidance for the next four years. This, however, Infrastructure Fund. does not meet the needs of local governments in developing their 10-year asset management 4 www.rdanwq.org.au/iq-rap plans and community development goals, nor
5 Our Fair Share Essential services funding
Charters Towers Regional Council supports the Australian Local Government Association’s push to review Financial Assistance Grants to a sustainable level for local government.
Recommendation and increased demand for essential services ~ The Federal Government restores Financial and infrastructure. Assistance Grants (FAGs) funding to local government to a level of at least 1% of Our recent Community Satisfaction Survey Commonwealth taxation revenue. (Nov 2018) reaffirms Council is under pressure to meet community expectations in areas such The Issue as ‘Basic Services and Infrastructure’ and The growth in Commonwealth taxation revenue ‘Community Lifestyle Services.’ over the past 20 years has not been matched by a growth in distributions to local The Solution government. Nor has the growth in partnership Commit to restoring a more sustainable funding - although very welcome - filled the approach to federal FAGs funding to local gap. government; that is “1% plus partnership programs.” Background Given the steady, long-term decline of FAGs funding to local government from 1996 5 Letter from ALGA President to Councils, onwards, Charters Towers Regional Council has www.alga.asn.au been under immense pressure to meet ongoing
6 Defence Realisation of locality-based business
Fulfil the opportunities under the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI).
Recommendation business opportunities within the LGA, avoiding ~ Continue to liaise closely with Charters excess leakage. Towers Regional Council regarding ASMTI Background opportunities within the Region, following Charters Towers Regional Council is committed confirmation of regional training area in our to leveraging opportunities of ASMTI. Local Government Area (LGA).
The Issue The Solution With a proposed training area marked for the Commit to fulfilling local procurement, (ie from Charters Towers Region, Charters Towers within the LGA); business opportunities to be Regional Council are determined to retain realised.
6 Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative www.defence.gov.au/Initiatives/ASMTI/
7 Telecommunications A connected community The Charters Towers Region is lagging in sufficient and adequate telecommunications infrastructure.
Recommendation services in Charters Towers and the region is ~ Nominate Charters Towers Region localities currently unreliable and inadequate. for the provision of telecommunication infrastructure through the Mobile Black Spot Remote rural areas and Aboriginal and Torres program. Strait Island communities are also excluded from accessing reliable telecommunication The Issue infrastructure. This lack of accessibility directly The Charters Towers region is vast in area contributes to an inability to connect with (70,000km2) and has insufficient and/or emergency services and the region as a whole, unreliable mobile coverage, within the City and should a medical situation occur. surrounding areas. Improving connection and reliability is The Solution paramount to the health, wealth and quality of 1. Continue the Mobile Black Spot program life of Charters Towers residents and visitors. with consideration of Charters Towers Region localities for current and future rounds, Background prioritising the following rationalised locations: Regional Development Australia, on behalf of a) Disaster Management: Burdekin Fall Dams Council, recently responded to the Australian locality; Gregory Development Road, Government 2018 Regional Telecommunications particularly south. Review and highlighted the main barriers and b) Economic Development of high-value issues with the current telecommunication agricultures and defence: Gregory service. Development Road (north and south). 2. Support the recommendations of the 2018 Deficiencies highlighted related to the ability of Regional Telecommunications Review, our key industries to perform. For example, our particularly “10 c) Encouraging the agricultural schools - a major industry - to function sector to provide industry-specific advice about effectively and operate through technology, as the Internet of Things and other digital fast upload and download speeds is essential in applications that will drive productivity gains in the facilitation of distance learning. Bandwidth the sector.” demand and lag time associated with satellite 7 Australian Government 2018 Regional Telecommunications Review, www.rtirc.gov.au