ADVOCACY REPORT FNQROC STATE DELEGATION 11-13 AUGUST 2020 ADVOCACY REPORT PAGE 2 Effectively advocating regional priorities to develop the economies of Far North Queensland ADVOCACY REPORT PAGE 3 DELEGATION MEMBERS PRIORITY PILLARS Cr Peter Scott, Chair & Mayor Key priority projects as identified by the Cook Shire Council Board and advocated for during this Mayoral Delegation, align with the FNQROC Strategic Cr Bob Manning, Mayor Economic Priorities of: Cairns Regional Council Cr Michael Kerr, Mayor Transport Douglas Shire Council Water & energy Environment Cr Jason Woibo, Mayor Social infrastructure Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council Communication Cr Angela Toppin, Mayor Mareeba Shire Council Key Briefing Notes can be accessed via the Cr Ross Andrews, Mayor following FNQROC Website links: Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council FNQROC State Priorities at a Glance Mr Leon Yeatman, CEO Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council FNQROC State Priorities (Full Brief) Ms Darlene Irvine FNQROC Executive Officer ADVOCACY REPORT PAGE 4 FNQROC PRIORITY PROJECTS Road Investment FNQ Regional Roads Cairns to Northern Tablelands Access Strategy Water Infrastructure Economic Value of Dams over the Longer Term Gilbert River Irrigation Project Health Kidney Transplant Unit at the Cairns Hospital Social Infrastructure Social Housing Environment Waste Management Costs Generated within Qld State and National Parks Economic Drivers COVID-19 Economic Recovery and Future Resilience OUR REGION OUR COMMUNITY OUR ECONOMY 13 Local Governments 279,948 People $16.33B GRP representing (ABS ERP 2019) 17% of QLD Councils Tourism $3.1b Primary Industries $2.7b The largest and fastest 316,663km² of land area, Mining $1.4b growing region in including 1235km of Construction $3.8b Northern Australia Eastern seaboard Manufacturing $2.8b ADVOCACY REPORT PAGE 5 FNQROC Full Delegation (except Cr Manning) FNQROC Full Delegation (except Cr Manning) FNQROC hosted luncheon with Ms Ros Bates MP, Shadow Minister FNQ Elected Members for Health & Ambulance Services and Women Key Topics and Discussions Key Topics Kidney Transplant Unit for Cairns FNQROC hosted a luncheon with the following FNQ Vision for the FNQ Region Elected Members to discuss State Priorities: Discussion Hon Curtis Pitt MP, Member for Mulgrave Kidney Transplant Unit - Critical health need Hon Craig Crawford MP, Member for Barron River for the Cairns and ATSI communities Mr Michael Healy MP, Member for Cairns Comments/Vision Ms Cynthia Lui MP, Member for Cook Shadow Minister is a RN, specialising in chronic care and lobbied Federal Govt prior Mr Shane Knuth MP, Member for Hill to entering politics, particularly fighting for Kidney related disease and renal problems. Big supportive of preventative measures. Discussions re the financial impact of COVID-19 on Announcements soon in the lead up to the individual councils and electorate specific issues as election. Pre-polling numbers will be high, so raised. announcements will come out sooner than later. Opportunities for FNQROC to meet with Community Cabinet during August in Cairns Asked of lobbing efforts to date, advised priority is led by CRC (Ms Bates in Cairns next week and can meet with Cr Manning) Vision – works closely with Hon Greg Hunt MP, agree re duplication of services; working on rationalising services to get KPIs met; mental health will be focus post-COVID, Qld 2nd highest rate of suicide; Step Up/Step Down facilities; Drug & Alcohol issues; Emergency Dept need to take the weight off Category 3 waiting lists have all been wiped, GP’s need to relist Apologies Outcomes / Follow Up Mr Robbie Katter MP, Member for Traeger Set up meeting with Ms Bates and Cr Mr Nick Dametto MP, Member for Hinchinbrook Manning in Cairns next week. on ADVOCACY REPORT PAGE 15 FNQROC Full Delegation (Except Cr Manning) Mr Dale Last MP, Shadow Minister for NQ and Natural Resources, Mines & Water Key Topics Outcomes / Follow Up All FNQROC State Priorities Shadow Minister happy to take federal issue Vision for the FNQ Region forward re Social Housing & Closing the Gap Supports Cairns as the location for Kidney Discussion/Vision Transplant Unit over Townsville; data and health community needs. LNP committed to building dams – setting up Vision – does not want to hear about the the Qld Dam Company (taking away from ‘potential’ of the NQ and get on with SunWater) to build all regional dams. development with minimal red/green tape. Recommendation for a 20% reduction of the Lobbying and representation pre-election is cost of irrigation water. Dam maintenance competitive – looking for projects that are and safety upgrades, rec facilities etc should ready to go and deliver jobs with ROI. not be passed on to irrigators (government cost); Water feeds economic development around agriculture / farming; Releasing Vegetation Management Plan next week, including land clearing / economic development. All about cutting red/green tape for LGs. If approvals not received within 30 days, deemed approved. Important to manage National Parks that are currently owned before adding more. Post COVID / Economic Recovery – FNQROC messaging refreshing to hear that communities want to be part of the solution and not just looking for a handout; Need to diversify re agriculture; needs an overarching strategic plan for the industry to ensure we have a variety of crops so we do not end up with a glut of the same crop. Indigenous land tenure especially leases ADVOCACY REPORT PAGE 16 FNQROC Full Delegation (Except Cr Manning) Hon Mick de Brenni MP, Minister for Housing & Public Works, Digital Technology & Sport $105m from commonwealth; Community Cabinet in Cairns August – opportunity for Key Topics Mayors; FNQROC request to work together – Social Housing well received and Minister would support – Mobile Coverage Report needs Commonwealth support; Vision for the FNQ Region Digital – opportunity to deliver better internet Discussion/Vision speeds and connectivity through Dark fibre. Wujal Wujal – land locked and not shovel Work with private sector or Govt Capital. Tele- ready, but need subsidisation to develop. health, small biz and students struggle with Hope Vale – Land Tenure issues. Land- connectivity – critical post-COVID as locked, purchased land but needs significant Southerners move north and the ability to work $s to develop. 80% of workforce local, looking remotely. at apprenticeships/traineeships. FNQROC mobile gap analysis – study findings Opportunities Post COVID to re-write the rules 70% of our road network in a blackspot – used and minimise red tape around remote and by HV and tourists. Critical for home indigenous social housing. schooling, safety, tourism and critical for Construction creates jobs and supply chains, attracting people to our region for economic and results in community pride. Using state growth. Dark fibre goes wherever high voltage land to better advantage. FNQROC can lobby power lines go. Federal with the State support. PCYC turnover to Sport & Rec, guarantee job Minister appreciated the efforts of the Mayors security of every staff member and provide to travel and meet face to face. certainty of program continuing. Understands in the remote areas how tight Vision – recognises opportunities around digital housing already is. connectivity; key priorities ATSI Housing Action Plan, Stage 2 of Housing Plan early 20/21, Local Housing Plans (not Brisbane centric), now inclusive of Yarrabah. Familiar with Hope closing the digital divide and capitalise on the Vale Housing Plan. opportunities. Land Tenure remains a challenge for the region. Outcomes / Follow Up Vision – ATSI housing body; support delivery Minister happy to meet with FNQROC again of outcomes like home ownership, land tenure, prior to election invested $100m into Works for Tradies; $1.08b Minister’s office to send REIQ quarterly into remote communities. residential tenancy data / vacancy rates very low (watch and brief) ADVOCACY REPORT PAGE 6 FNQROC Full Delegation (except Cr Manning) FNQROC Full Delegation (except Cr Manning) Hon Mark Bailey MP, Minister for Vi Mr Michael Hart MP, Shadow Main Roads & Transport si Minister for Housing and Public Mr David Greene, Senior Policy Advisor Works, Energy, Innovation & Mr Sanjay Ram, DTMR on Digital Economy Key Topics FNQ Regional Roads / RRIS Key Topics Cairns to Northern Tablelands Strategy Social Housing Vision for the FNQ Region Digital Connectivity Vision for the FNQ Region Discussion/Vision Overview of the RRIS – looked at inhibitors to Discussion/Vision economic growth. Seeking $461m over 4 years, Yarrabah - 354 social housing in total, with 700 on (not including KRR/ Palmerston Hwy). the waiting list. Delivery of the findings of the Cairns to Northern Wujal – looking for subsidies for land clearance. Tablelands Study due to Minister for review 40 people waiting on housing list (existing (Sept). Palmerston Hwy ongoing problems residents $30m allocated for a smart solution for KRR – roll Hope Vale – Old generation still waiting and now out ITS solution; adjust road speeds based on younger generation coming through with children. weather (wet, misty, poor visibility) or congestion Dept of Housing has a housing profile on each of with positive impacts on safety; this funding was our communities for number of transfers part of agreement with Feds for signing the inland No current construction in Indigenous rail. communities and none for several years. 5 year program renewal on PDR - successful in Overcrowding in