Engine room of Qld demands ‘real plan’ from pollies
Mayor demands more commitment to ‘the source of Queensland’s future wealth and prosperity’.
Mackay
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ISAAC Regional Council has called on political parties contesting the Queensland election to put their "real plan" for the region on the table.
Isaac Mayor Anne Baker has questioned last week's release of the Palaszczuk Government's Mackay-Whitsunday regional economic recovery plan over its ability to help the region.
Cr Baker said any party wanting to lead Queensland and benefit from Isaac's contribution to the state's GDP would need to clearly demonstrate its real plan for the region.
"This means that government must have a real plan to invest in services and infrastructure that underpin and support our region's economic engine - the source of Queensland future wealth and prosperity," she said.
"It's true that while the rest of Queensland locked down earlier in the year during COVID-19 restrictions, our region's 26 active coal mines continued to operate to generate revenue and employment for the rest of the state and country.
"However, that doesn't mean businesses in our region were not impacted.
"It's been extremely important to their recovery that council had a real plan that genuinely responds to those devastating impacts."
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Cr Baker noted recent campaign commitments by the LNP - $6.1 million for the Moranbah community centre upgrade and a pledge to fix the Phillips Creek Bridge - in issuing another call to action and commitment by all candidates.
Isaac Regional Council's top-priority projects and issues include:
- Upgrading the Moranbah Community Centre;
- Sealing and other critical work on the May Downs Road;
- Replacing the Phillips Creek Bridge on the Saraji Road, connecting Moranbah and Dysart;
- Boosting health services in the Isaac Region, currently inadequate to service the true population residing there at any one time;
- A review of funding methodology for services and infrastructure;
- Reducing the cost of water purchased for Isaac communities; and
- Funding projects to further improve water quality and security for the Clermont community.
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