Looking to the future of Townsville
In October, the Regional Australia Institute and the Business Council of Australia visited Townsville to host an open forum on unlocking economic prosperity in the North West Queensland region.
The open forum was the third in a series of community conversations being held across Australia, working with regions to focus on their competitive advantages and future pathways to success. By merging with work of the RAI and the BCA with local knowledge and experience, these forums are also creating a platform for regional voices to be heard at a federal level.
The Townsville consultation, held at James Cook University on Tuesday 22 October, brought together representatives from business, community, research and government sectors. It focused on what makes the region work well at present, what has made it work well in the past, and what needs to be in place for the region to be at its very best in the future.
Participants identified the potential of Townsville to become a major distribution hub in northern Australia, pointing to the need for transport infrastructure across roads, rail and the coast. They also spoke of the need for better connectivity within the region, through broadband and telecommunications. Increasing opportunities for young people and families, and developing the services in health and education to retain them, was seen as a key priority. Developing regional leadership was seen as critical to driving social infrastructure. The participants also raised concerns over the management of water and electricity in the region, and the need to resolve uncertainty.
The RAI and the BCA would like to thank all those who made the open forum such a positive experience. The input gained will be invaluable to developing the future agenda of the RAI and the BCA, to reflect regional knowledge, concerns and aspirations. As part of our ongoing commitment to the community, we have developed a report of the outcomes of the open forum. We hope that this resource becomes a useful asset in the pathways forward for the region.
Click here to download a full record of the days ideas.
You can also check out our video on the forum, or have a look through the photos from the day.
If you’re interested in the Community Conversations series, and would like to have us visit your area, then head over to ‘Have Your Say‘ to get in touch!
