Regional Priorities for 2013 Federal Election 30 Year Infrastructure Plan for Tropical North Queensland Greater coordination of local, state and federal funding of infrastructure through a more strategic approach will provide the framework for the prioritisation and sequencing of infrastructure, including transportation (roads, rail, air and ports), water and sewerage, energy, telecommunications and social infrastructure. This will help to ensure infrastructure is provided where and when it is needed most, to address a clear and identified need. An analysis of existing infrastructure needs has identified a range of projects across Tropical North Queensland as catalytic regional infrastructure which requires government support, including: Sea Ports Yarrabah Wharf and Cruise Ship terminal project Cairns Wharf/Crane Extension Port of Karumba Archer Point barge landing facility (as part of Archer Point development project) Mourilyan Harbour Roads Hann Highway and associated gulf roads Kuranda Range Road Peninsula Development Road Palmerston Highway/ Mourilyan Access Airports Lockhart River Airport Horn Island Airport Mareeba Airport Expansion Irrigated Agriculture and Water for the Future Gilbert and Flinders Rivers catchments Regional Water Supply assessment and Nullinga Dam Charleston Lake Energy Tully Millstream Hydro-electric project Archer Point Wind Farm (as part of Archer Point development project) Approval support for Mt Emerald and Mt Surprise Projects Waste to Energy viability assessment in sugar towns Resources Limestone mine at Kings Plains (as part of Archer Point development project) An integrated regional infrastructure plan including supply chain analysis is required to sequence these projects and others, to support development and identified need. Request: Funding for a long-term infrastructure plan, including prioritisation and sequencing of infrastructure along supply chains to support agriculture, tourism, mining and construction growth, as well as to support emerging industries like the renewable energy industry Establish Mareeba Airport as Northern Australia’s general aviation training hub Redevelopment of the Mareeba Airport would establish Mareeba as Northern Australia’s general aviation training hub and heavy maintenance centre for medium-sized commercial aircraft. The project has the capacity to bring benefits worth more than $11 million per annum to the whole region, both in the construction phase and once the works are completed, when jobs in aviation-related activities would be created. The Mareeba Airport Development Plan identifies the potential of Mareeba Airport to attract more business by developing a high technology maintenance and specialist flight training facility. With a world-wide aviation skills shortage, Mareeba Airport could provide training services to the Asia Pacific Region. The airport would also provide aircraft refuelling facilities in the western development area, as well as establish freight handling facility to service the agricultural, diary and mining sectors. Request: $14,242,500 for Stage 2 (total project cost is $22.8 million) Sealing the Hann Highway Tropical North Queensland produces a huge range of unique foods, including wild and farmed seafood, dairy products, beef, pork and poultry, fruits and vegetables, nuts, tea and coffee. Over 10% of Queensland’s total agricultural production is generated in our region, with agriculture a major economic driver for regions beyond Cairns. It is also a significant contributor to employment, investment and domestic spending across the whole region. Improving distribution infrastructure in North Queensland will help strengthen existing food-supply systems, allowing food to move from where it can be produced efficiently to where it is most needed. The Hann Highway has long been identified as an alternative route to the Bruce Highway, providing a more direct link between North Queensland and Melbourne/Adelaide for the movement of freight, cattle and other agricultural products. Sealing of the last remaining section of the Hann Highway, to provide year-round access to southern markets for North Queensland’s agricultural produce, improves supply chains and provides significant freight efficiencies for producers, as well as assist in the development of new industries into the future. Sealing of the Hann Highway is critical also to the development of the Northern Beef Supply Chain. Request: $73.2 million, to seal the last remaining section of the Hann Highway. Continued upgrading of the Peninsula Development Road Upgrading the Peninsula Developmental Road provides better connections between the principal road servicing Cape York Peninsula and the National Network south of Cairns. It will also generate indirect benefits for Cairns as the regional transport hub. In addition, sealing of the road will assist in keeping the road open longer during the wet season, improve safety and travel time and will reduce costs for the pastoral and tourism industries heavily reliant on the road. There is significant economic activity in the Cape York region. However, a lack of vital infrastructure means that many Indigenous communities are unable to take advantage of the opportunities this activity brings. An investment in the PDR would put in place good infrastructure that will unlock the region's full potential. This will improve accessibility to the Cape York region, create new jobs and support mining and tourism in the area. Request: An ongoing commitment to sealing the Peninsula Development Road Nullinga Dam To enable the region to deliver on its potential to contribute to a doubling of the nation’s food production and to expand capacity for urban water supply, investment is required into further progressing feasibility studies into the construction of Nullinga dam and other secure regional water supply options. The dam site was identified more than fifty years ago as the next primary water source after supply capacity from Tinaroo Dam was exhausted. This time is fast approaching. The dam will deliver water for both urban use (Cairns City) and for the expansion of agricultural land on the Atherton Tablelands. A further benefit may be delivered through an increase in generation capacity at the Barron falls power station. Request: $10 million, to progress feasibility studies Development of Mountain Biking Infrastructure in Tropical North Queensland The Regional Mountain Bike Strategy Taskforce has identified that a major and immediate opportunity exists to achieve significant growth of the tourism industry in Tropical North Queensland through focussed effort and investment in the fast growing pursuit of mountain biking. The region has excellent tourism infrastructure, access and capacity year round and is primed to attract serious new levels of visitation. A strong global reputation for world class tracks, an established suit of events, a keen and enthusiastic grass roots network and a tourism industry seeking to diversify are the key drivers of this opportunity. For Tropical North Queensland, mountain biking provides an opportunity for year round visitation and supports strong regional dispersal and expenditure. Mountain biking is the fastest growing participation sport globally and a significant travel motivator in high yielding markets. Mountain biking is a virtually “shock proof” tourism segment and a very resilient market, deliver excellent community benefits. Well known mountain biking events have been held in Tropical North Queensland since 1996 and the region is positioned as a key destination globally. We have been successful in attracting the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in 2017, as well as being selected to host World Cup events in 2014 and 2016. Our capacity to attract and host top-level sporting events is not in question however we need to capitalise on these opportunities and develop infrastructure for the long term as well as providing linkages between the hot spots of mountain biking activity. Request: $2 million for the continued development of mountain biking in Tropical North Queensland, including infrastructure critical to the hosting of rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cups for 2014 and 2016, and the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in 2017. Note: Tablelands Regional Council were successful for $500,000 in funding under Round 4 of the Regional Development Australia Fund for the development of 32.45 kilometres of mountain bike trains in the Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park, as well as for signage, maps and trail information. A further investment in infrastructure will complement this commitment and provide linkages to mountain bike trails across the whole region. Investment in renewable energy technologies in Tropical North Queensland The development of new electricity generation in Northern Queensland will deliver electricity more cost efficiently and therefore not only reduce the need for public financial support, but better meet the growth projections of the region. In Tropical North Queensland the pricing of electricity to industry in particular is a major inhibitor to growth as this tariff is not supported by public funding. The Tropical North Queensland Renewable Energy Industry Development Plan (TNQREIDP) identified that the development of local solutions to electricity generation will provide future energy security for Tropical North Queensland as well as greater economic development opportunities within our regions. The TNQREIDP also identified that access