As leaders of the North West Queensland communities, the mayors and council representatives of NWQROC play a key role in strategic planning and advocacy for the region. Below are just some of the initiatives undertaken by NWQROC as we aim to shape the future of our region.
The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) is pleased to welcome Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council as its newest member, further strengthening the collaboration between councils across the region.
NWQROC Chair Cr Barry Hughes, said the announcement by the federal government last week regarding Rex Airlines is a welcome step toward in ensuring regional routes are maintained in the short term, but added that the frustration of the protracted sale process and disruption experienced by communities cannot continue indefinitely.
Cr Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair
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.
Cr Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair
As the dust settles on the recent federal election, in the North West we continue to turn our attention to the job at hand - building a strong, resilient future for our region - with our recent board meeting held in Mount Isa on the 7-8 May.
Cr Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair
Last week, I had the privilege of leading a delegation of the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) to Brisbane. Alongside mayors and representatives from across our vast region - from Mount Isa to the Gulf, from Cloncurry to Croydon - we brought the voice of the North West directly to the steps of Queensland Parliament.
From aviation to road funding, housing, biosecurity, telecommunications, the CopperString project, and the ongoing challenges of flood recovery - we covered the issues that matter most to our people and our future.
North West Queensland is enhancing its regional appeal and workforce potential with the launch of two new digital platforms – Live North West and Jobs North West.
The Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie, officially launched the sites today, as part of a bold regional push to boost population, attract skilled workers, and strengthen economic sustainability.
Cr Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair
With the recent flooding in the north and south east of the state, our attention once again turns to disaster recovery and resilience. Living with the constant reality of extreme weather events, we’re no strangers to this topic across northern Queensland.
As you’ll no doubt be seeing updates on the latest rounds of funding and disaster relief, it’s timely to highlight to our community the impending changes and risks to these arrangements that could be around the corner.
Cr Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair
With recent weather events my contribution theme this week is most timely.
We’re encouraged at this time in our region to be seeing our hard work advocating for and securing investment to build resilience against disasters resulting in projects in the pipeline or underway.
This week, the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils welcomed a new approach to building resilience in our communities with Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister confirming successful projects for resilience project funding on 14 February.
Cr Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair
As Chair of the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC), I am proud to represent a region that is both rich in resources and resilient in spirit. Our communities, spread across vast distances, are the backbone of industries critical to Australia’s economy, including mining, agriculture, and energy.
With the Federal Election campaigning clearly starting to ramp up, it is vital that the unique challenges and opportunities of North West Queensland are firmly on the national agenda.
Cr Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair
The dust has well and truly settled on the 2024 State Election, with the Ministerial announcements and department reshuffles now complete.
It’s given our group of Mayors from across the 11 councils of the North West time to discuss the outcomes, appointments and the alignment across our priorities as we get our local and regional agendas set for the new year.
Cr Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair
As the dust settles on the State election, the local councils of the North West are continuing their fight for a fair share and delivery of much needed, and much overlooked, government investment in our region.
Local government leaders from across 11 North West Queensland councils will put their questions and priorities to Traeger candidates at a forum hosted in Julia Creek today.
NWQROC led a delegation of Mayors and Deputy Mayors to Canberra on 5-6 June ready to advocate for support and investment in the newly released NWQ Enabling Infrastructure Masterplan.
More than $300 million worth of shovel-ready project funding will be sought from federal government ministers next week when a delegation of North West mayors unveil a long-awaited and unprecedented “back to basics” strategy.
Local government leaders from across North West Queensland have welcomed priority investment for flood recovery and resilience in the region as part of the State and Federal government’s $119 million funding package announced today.
NWQROC has welcomed the latest report from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (QGSO) on part of the region’s resource industry workforce. The new report is a welcome first step to truly understand the number of people in our region and therefore the demand made on our services and infrastructure.
Leaders from across Queensland’s North West are calling on the State Government to go back to basics as it develops a Regional Transformation Strategy and Implementation Plan for the region.
NWQROC Executive Officer Greg Hoffman PSM represented the region at the Developing Northern Australia Conference 2023 (DNAC) in Darwin 23-26 July, talking enabling infrastructure for Queensland’s north west as part of Northern Australia.
Representatives from NWQROC and Southern Gulf NRM met with the Agriculture Minister and senior executives with the Department of Agriculture in Brisbane this week.
Leaders from across North West Queensland are calling on State and Federal governments to step up support for the flood-hit people, business and industry dealing with growing devastation in Queensland’s north west.
Representatives from NWQROC joined WQAC colleagues as part of delegations to State and Federal government in March 2023.
NWQROC Chair, Mayor Jack Bawden, attended the Queensland Housing Summit hosted in Brisbane on 20 October 2022.
Three candidates contesting the seat of Kennedy at the upcoming federal election participated in a Q&A session hosted by North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils in Mount Surprise yesterday.
“Out West Where the Stars are Brightest” was the theme of the 2022 Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) Assembly where a record 205 delegates, sponsors, government and industry participants convened at the Charleville Town Hall from Wednesday 9th to Friday 11th March.
More than 180 delegates including leaders from across Western Queensland and senior State and Federal government representatives are set to gather in Richmond from 17 – 19 May for the 2021 Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) Assembly.
Connecting via Zoom this morning, NWQROC held its monthly board meeting.
Local leaders from across the nine councils of NWQROC came together for our monthly board meeting.
It was a full house for our monthly Board meeting over the past two days in Julia Creek.
North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils board has re-elected Carpentaria Shire Mayor Jack Bawden as its Chair. Elected as Deputy Chair is Flinders Shire Mayor Jane McNamara.
Cr McNamara will also represent North West Queensland following her election as Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Policy Executive for 2020-2024.
Richmond Shire Mayor John Wharton AM, has been re-elected as the Chair of the North West Queensland Regional Roads and Transport Group.
Our first board meeting post-local government elections took place today with the board welcoming two new Mayors, Cr Philip Curr, McKinlay and Cr Danielle Slade, Mount Isa.
With COVID-19 bringing our plans to host the meeting in Mount Isa to a halt, we moved our meeting online to cover a full agenda of more than four hours.
With the Queensland local government election day only four days away, the organisation of the eight councils of North West Queensland has called for the current election to continue.
Executive Officer of the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC), Greg Hoffman PSM said: “As the world moves to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever we need certainty in our local communities and local government leaders empowered to make the decisions and provide the support their residents need.“
“NWQROC urges the Electoral Commission Queensland (ECQ) to continue with the election – but it must ensure that the safety of its polling staff, electors and candidates is its top priority,” Mr Hoffman said.
