Townsville North Queensland Projects and Policies ISL LM AN A D P ABORIGINAL SHIRE COUNCIL Foreword As the largest city and region in Northern Australia, $293M Queensland Country Bank Stadium opening, a Townsville North Queensland encompasses five major strong events and cruise ship calendar, delivering the Big regional centres: Townsville, Charters Towers, Burdekin, Rocks Weir Business Case, the Port Channel Widening, Palm Island and Hinchinbrook. The region traditionally construction of Adani’s Carmichael Mine, renewed private contributes over $16.6B annually to the Queensland sector investment into the Townsville CBD, the first stage economy and is home to nearly 240,000 people. of the Museum of Underwater Art, and Government policy agreements like the landmark City Deal and the Australia- However, as our state, nation and globe grapples with the Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership providing unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, our economic landscape momentum and funding for future developments. has dramatically shifted, and public funds have never been more competitive. In this current environment, We are not solely focused on cushioning the immediate where every dollar and every job counts, we must throw and flow-on impacts of COVID-19, but additionally deal all we can to get business and people back to work whilst with the pre-existing structural issues that undermine managing the ongoing health crisis. future resilience and the investment necessary to resolve impediments that have hamstrung our region from This is why Townsville Enterprise, TaskforceNQ, North reaching its full potential. We implore governments to Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NQROC) continue building upon the visions for the north set out and North Queensland’s business community are working in the North Queensland Regional Plan, the North West closer than ever before in advocating for the region as one Minerals Province Strategic Blueprint and Economic voice. The continued focus on economic recovery is critical Diversification Strategy, and the Northern Australian to the future of North Queensland and the partnership Agenda. between business and Government has never been more important. This can be achieved through further investment into key infrastructure and industries that are the lifeblood of This document identifies the robust pipeline of projects regional Queensland and policy levers that can support and key policy levers in North Queensland that can not and grow Queensland and Australia’s economy, through: only ensure a strong future and sustained job creation for the region but support Queensland and Australia’s long- Agriculture, Minerals & Advanced Manufacturing; term economic recovery. Destination Development; We acknowledge the State and Federal Governments for Defence; standing up across this dual health and economic crisis Health, Research & Social Infrastructure; and and providing businesses and households invaluable support to weather this unprecedented storm. But due to Locals Building Up Locals. the short runway into a Federal Budget and Queensland State Election, we are making a strong case as a united The targeted priorities included in the 2020 North voice for targeted investment and policy support to Queensland Projects and Policies document have been ensure the North not only recovers but emerges stronger defined based on their capacity to stimulate economic than ever. recovery and growth, encourage industry and private sector investment, influence business confidence and Over the past decade, the people of Townsville North create jobs. This is more important than ever with the Queensland have experienced some of the toughest additional economic challenges our region is facing from economic conditions in its 154-year history. The downturn the impacts of COVID-19 following a decade of downturn. in commodities, the drought and dramatic changes in the makeup of the economy saw unemployment in 2012 at an The State and Federal Governments play a key role in the unprecedented 14%, with youth unemployment over 20%. economic recovery of North Queensland and the outlined economy building package is about giving communities Water security and skyrocketing energy prices and people hope for a better future. We encourage all threatened the closure of our remaining manufacturing levels of government to work in partnership with each and production industries and business confidence hit other and with the North Queensland community to fast- historic lows. Adding to this, in February 2019 our region track investment and implement policies that will not only experienced one of the worst natural disasters in North get the region back on its feet but secure its long-term Queensland’s recent memory. future and economic resilience. This has now been compounded with the double-edged We have the projects, we have the people, and we have health and economic sword of COVID-19 in what was the potential. Now North Queensland needs the keys to considered by the North Queensland community as unlock the north so we can play a meaningful and capable “our year“ with several game-changing projects coming role to progress the state and the nation. Not just because online and green-shoots emerging. This included the we can, but because we want to. PAGE 2 North and North West Queensland Zone of National Significance Support for new business investment, potentially GROWTH OPPORTUNITY including reduced/deferred payroll tax, accelerated depreciation for major capital and maintenance works, and allowances for increased exploration activity; and The North and North West Queensland region is the most strategically important export supply chain in Northern Commitment to funding and fast tracking leading Australia. The area contains up to $680B of known in- infrastructure that will support cost-competitive supply ground resources, $500B of which are new economy chains and industry expansion: minerals. Maximising the potential of the population, Supply Chain Infrastructure: infrastructure and skills capability in this region is vital to CopperString 2.0; a prosperous Queensland and National economy. Many Australian and international businesses wish to take Mount Isa to Townsville rail line; and advantage of the opportunities available in North and Port of Townsville Expansion North West Queensland. However, the vast distances Investment in trunk infrastructure in industrial land and cost structure of the region continue to constrain at Lansdown and the Townsville State Development investment and employment. Area. The region requires a framework for major infrastructure, Water Security: policy setting, and private sector investments to unlock its Build Big Rocks Weir; potential as the economic powerhouse of Northern Australia. These outcomes are best achieved through declaring the R aising of the Burdekin Falls Dam; area that includes North Queensland and the North West Progress works towards Hells Gates Dam; and Minerals Province a Zone of National Significance. The Fast track water allocations and approvals for HIPCO, establishment of the Zone will drive the development of Richmond Agricultural Project, and Wet Tropics agriculture, minerals, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Resource Operations Plan. The North and North West Queensland Zone of For the North and North West Queensland region, National Significance will utilise targeted company, economic development and diversification through the employee, and infrastructure development incentives Zone of National Significance framework will ease ongoing to attract investment, resident population, and industry cost pressures, insulate the region against the commodity development in a range of sectors which will leverage the cycle, and provide economic opportunity for residents. region’s existing industry base and export infrastructure. For Queensland and Australia this will lead to more stable Key components of the Zone: regional communities, and cost-competitive mining and Establishment of a ‘one-stop-shop’ for streamlined agricultural sectors. These key export and employment development approvals within the precinct; sectors will become more able to sustain operations Increased zonal offset incentives, reflecting the costs of during the down-cycle, and capture a greater share of permanent residency in the rural/remote parts of the the value chain generated by the North and North West region; Queensland region’s natural resources and agricultural Strong local content policy for all Government led wealth. infrastructure projects; PAGE 3 AGRICULTURE, MINERALS & ADVANCED MANUFACTURING The importance and POTENTIAL JOBS FROM COMBINED PROJECTS interconnectedness of agriculture, 14,990 5,923 44,623 minerals and advanced manufacturing CONSTRUCTION PERMANENT INDIRECT in North Queensland cannot be JOBS ONGOING JOBS JOBS overstated, with the growth of these sectors critical to Queensland’s and the nation’s economic recovery. Support PROJECT JOB SUMMARY Construction Permanent Indirect for the projects and policies across Ongoing these industries in North Queensland Big Rocks Weir 133 115 749 will also assist in driving down the cost of energy encouraging private CopperString 2.0 400 20 3,500 investment and job creation. Mount Isa to Townsville Supply 1,035 87 2,484 COVID-19 has revealed Australia’s reliance on Chain (TEARC jobs) international supply and concerns around the North and North West Queensland ability to continue exporting to some regions 11,867 3,885 25,303 Water Supply (Hells of the globe. Industries