Engagement, Partnership and Pathways to Prosperity
Cr Barry Hughes - NWQROC Chair
The State Government’s latest announcement on the CopperString project was one of the items on the agenda at NWQROC’s 6 June meeting (pictured above).
There is no question that the future of North West Queensland is rich with opportunity, from energy transformation to thriving primary industries and essential infrastructure. But seizing that opportunity depends on one critical element: partnership.
With the State Government’s $1.4bn CopperString announcement in Townsville earlier this month reaching us via public media statement, there is a sentiment that is increasingly felt across our region: while we welcome the momentum of investment in major projects like CopperString, we need that momentum to be coupled with timely, transparent engagement with local leaders.
The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) acknowledges the government’s commitment to the CopperString project and its transformative potential for our region. We don’t take that support for granted. It’s a generational investment that will reshape the economic foundations of our region as well as deliver great benefits to Queensland and the nation!
However, for CopperString to realise its full potential, we must be equal partners in its delivery. That’s not a new ask - it’s a principle that sits at the heart of the Equal Partnership in Government Agreement signed between Queensland’s local governments and the Crisafulli Government earlier this year. This agreement is built on mutual respect, transparency, and trust.
“Across every agenda item - from energy to agriculture to local infrastructure - one thing remains constant: when regional voices are heard and respected, outcomes improve. ”
In the spirit of the agreement, we would hope that when the government is making announcements affecting councils, that they are informed and involved. As we actively demonstrate, our councils are always ready and willing to engage constructively, to bring our local knowledge to the table, and to ensure that the aspirations of our communities are realised alongside this critical infrastructure. After all, these are our communities, and our people will live with the outcomes of every decision long after the ribbon is cut.
Beyond energy infrastructure, we also welcomed the release of the draft Primary Industries Prosper 2050 Blueprint. This document is a comprehensive starting point to guide long-term investment and policy development in one of our region’s most vital sectors. For the North West, primary industries are more than a line in the budget - they are the lifeblood of our rural and remote towns. Generations of graziers, producers, workers and small businesses have built resilient communities through their contribution to the sector.
As part of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC), NWQROC through both survey and written submission, has provided clear and thoughtful input into the Blueprint. We’ve emphasised the need for stronger biosecurity protections, better connectivity (both digital and physical), shared-use infrastructure, and workforce development that supports both industry and community wellbeing.
But the real test of the Blueprint’s value will be in its implementation. We urge the State Government to co-design the five-year action plans in full partnership with regional and local councils. We live and work in these landscapes. We understand their needs and strengths. And we are fully invested in the future of our agricultural economy.
Lastly, one of the more complex but critical issues on our table right now is access to gravel and basic materials for local government works - roads, airstrips, flood recovery projects and more. The recent clarification by the State Government on the use of section 143 of the Local Government Act 2009 to assist local councils as they tackle natural disaster recovery is a welcome step that will save councils time, reduce cost burdens, and ultimately help us deliver services to communities faster following natural disaster.
We now await the detailed advice on how this will work in practice, and we look forward to being active partners in that rollout. We are also keen to continue working with the State Government on ensuring the long-term ready access to gravel supplies that are at the heart of councils’ responsibilities for road construction and maintenance and fundamental to the safety of our communities.
Across every agenda item - from energy to agriculture to local infrastructure - one thing remains constant: when regional voices are heard and respected, outcomes improve.
We thank the State Government for its commitments to date and look forward to continuing our work together, grounded in genuine partnership, to build a stronger, more resilient North West Queensland.
