Townsville leaders list what their priorities will be in 2025

The housing squeeze, our decaying CBD, youth crime crisis and battered Bruce Highway are our region’s leaders’ top priorities this year, with an upcoming federal election the opportunity to secure much-needed funds to boost the region.

Aerial view of the stadium and Townsville City. Leaders have set their priorities and concerns for the area as they focus on getting commitments from the federal election this year.

The housing squeeze, our decaying CBD, youth crime crisis and battered Bruce Highway are our region’s leaders’ top priorities this year, with an upcoming federal election the opportunity to secure much-needed funds to boost the region.

Townsville Chamber of Commerce president Miranda Mears said their biggest concerns were rising cost of doing business which was leading to insolvencies, as well as the plight of Townsville’s city heart, which was receiving poor feedback from cruise ship visitors.

She said while advocates had pushed to improve sections of Flinders Street where there were closed shops with fronts not being maintained, the issued seemed to be going in “circles” with governments.

“It doesn’t help in any way to encourage cruise lines to keep coming,” she said.

“Obviously they’re in the business of keeping their customers happy, so experience matters, so that’s across the whole user experience life cycle.”

President of the Chamber of Commerce Miranda Mears said business affordability, connectivity to the regions, and improving the Townsville CBD needed to be priorities. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Ms Mears said the federal election would be an opportunity to push for more North Queensland infrastructure, especially considering the development of CopperString and its importance for the nation’s defence.

“Obviously, with a federal election, the opportunity is there for us to be able to see some investment come to the region just to repair some of the challenges that we’ve got around connectivity for our regions,” she said.

“So that’s physical connectivity in terms of roads, that’s digital connectivity in terms of our actual connection, but also affordable, sustainable air travel as well.”

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said he would like to see Townsville prosper, as he looks towards the upcoming federal election.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson he wanted “to see Townsville prosper again” as he prepares for an election battle in the hopes of representing a government led under Peter Dutton.

Mr Thompson listed cost of living and crime as key concerns for the city.

But he hoped that crime levels which had tainted the city’s reputation for years would finally be alleviated in 2025 given that a newly-elected LNP state government had legislated ‘Making Queensland Safer’ laws in the days before Christmas.

A crime scene outside Kirwan Police Station in July last year. Picture: Natasha Emeck

“I hope law and order will be restored to our city,” he said.

“My job is to be your voice in Canberra, let’s continue to work together to make Townsville the city it can and should be,” Mr Thompson said.

Dawson MP Andrew Willcox, who represents the electorate south of Ross River from Oonoonba through the Burdekin, Bowen and down to Mackay, said the Bruce Highway was an election issue that urgently needed addressing this year, as he described it as a “congo line of potholes”.

Dawson MP Andrew Wilcox pushed for funding to improve the Bruce Highway.

Mr Willcox said the worsening standards of the highway could be blamed on Labor’s decision to reduce the share of funding with the state government from 80-20 to half each.

But he confirmed that a Dutton-led government would commit to returning that share to 80-20 to improve the highway.

But he was also a supporter of Jet Zero Australia’s proposed $600m biofuel refinery to be built on a 20ha site in the Cleveland Bay Industrial Park, given that the company intended to use sugar cane for aviation fuel.

Townsville’s Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said priorities included cultural events, housing, and supporting the transition of 500 ADF personnel. Picture: Evan Morgan

Engineering designwork was being completed in preparation for a final investment decision to be made in December, and Mr Willcox said he had met numerous times with the founders about it and co-ordinated a meeting between them and Nationals leader David Littleproud in Canberra.

Townsville Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney listed her priorities, which was housing supply while additional 500 Australian Army personnel and their families moved to the city.

But Ms Greaney was also focused on cultural facilities and events, and sought further federal and state governments’ support for redevelopment of Reef HQ as well as for the Townsville Concert Hall project.

Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr sought better funding commitments from the federal election, especially for better funding delivery of the Bruce Highway. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm

She was prepared for the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea and Victory in the Pacific events, and the 40th anniversary of Dance North.

Ms Greaney also sought to work with Townsville Enterprise Limited to continue bringing in high quality performers and events to the city to boost its cultural profile.

Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr said housing, anti-crime legislation and the rollout of significant infrastructure such as Riverway Drive were the major concerns of her constituents this year.

But she was prepared for the federal election as well, and was hoping the Labor Government could match the opposition’s commitments to upgrade the Bruce Highway.

“It’s critical now to fix that highway, we need families to get home safe, we need a better freight network.

“Regardless of who’s in, that’s our fight.”

Originally published as Townsville leaders list what their priorities will be in 2025