Forum to push for regional growth in Mackay

_{30 April, 2010}

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Primary Industries Minister and Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin has called on those attending today’s regionalisation forum in Mackay to come up with new ideas and initiatives to entice people to the regions.

In addition, from today all local residents can also have their say on the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy by providing suggestions at http://growthsummit.premiers.qld.gov.au/

“The State Government can’t control if we grow but we can influence how and where we grow,” Mr Mulherin said.

“There are 2100 new residents every week and 70% currently settle in South East Queensland.

“We need to steer some of that growth to the regions to ease the pressure on SEQ but also to benefit regional communities. 

“At the Queensland Growth Management Summit in Brisbane 1400 ideas were generated on how to make more people call the regions home.

“There was strong backing for the idea of a Regional First Home Owners Grant, decentralisation of Government Departments, and support for new businesses in regional Queensland.

“Key themes emerged such as the need to ensure growth is managed to protect our lifestyle and environment and the need for infrastructure to help manage growth.

“At today’s forum we need to build on those ideas with constructive, innovative suggestions on how to attract more people to settle in the regions,” Mr Mulherin said. 

Police Minister Neil Roberts, who is also attending the forum, said there were varied projections for the population increase in the Mackay Regional Council area over the next 20 years.

“There were about 113,000 people in 2008. It’s predicted that will grow to anywhere from 160,000 to 189,000 by 2031.

“If managed properly population growth offers opportunities such as a stronger economy and more jobs, more services, more cultural and retail experiences, and more infrastructure investments,” Mr Roberts said.

The Mackay forum will also discuss the proposal for daylight saving in SEQ only and how to achieve sustainable communities through solar and other initiatives.

Member for Whitsunday and Employment Parliamentary Secretary Jan Jarratt said: “This forum will give a voice to the Mackay Whitsunday region to discuss how locals see the future management of population and economic growth in their area.

“The meeting is also an opportunity to gauge the interest of Mackay Whitsunday locals in daylight savings and in particular a split SEQ time zone,” Ms Jarratt said.

Regionalisation forums are being held today in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Mt Isa.

Media Contact: 3224 4500

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