8th August, 2014
Mr David Williamson
First Assistant Secretary
Northern Australia Taskforce
PO Box 6500
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Mr Williamson
P: 4410 3655
F: 4772 7668
E: info@rdanwq.org.au
PO Box 1669
Townsville QLD 4810
www.rdanwq.org.au
Re: Response to the Green Paper on Developing Northern Australia
On behalf of the Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland (RDA)
Committee, I write to congratulate the Government and the Northern Australia Taskforce on your
focus and work on the Green Paper on Developing Northern Australia.
Our RDA Committee, with a 100% footprint in Northern Australia, is pleased to provide input and ongoing support to the Australian Government in the drafting of policy and programmes for the
development of Northern Australia. Within our region, which covers 27% of the population and 15%
of the area of Northern Australia, we have undertaken extensive consultation to create a Regional
Roadmap using the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Regional Economic Development
Framework. Across the four RDA regions of Northern Queensland, we have worked collaboratively
to develop the Northern Queensland Strategy. This strategy is informed by the Regional Roadmaps
of each RDA to focus on issues and opportunities of common interest from the Tropic of Capricorn to
Cape York and the Gulf. We also work closely with our RDA colleagues across Northern Australia and
have formed a Northern RDA Alliance to work collaboratively on Northern Australia issues and
opportunities. On the basis of our regional and cross-regional work, we make comments below.
Section D: Policy Directions
Delivering economic infrastructure
We support this policy direction as being critical to achieving outcomes for economic development
in the north. Energy, telecommunications, transport, health, education and community
infrastructure are vital for not only future growth but survival of current communities and industries
such as agriculture, mining and tourism.
To prioritise projects, a broader set of criteria is recommended rather than the usual cost benefit
ratio analysis which is driven by volume rather than value. In our work with regional Mayors on
developing future road funding priorities (refer to http://www.rdatanwq.org.au/projects), the
following set of criteria have been agreed to provide a more holistic approach to assessing the
benefits and values of infrastructure investment. We would recommend a similar approach.
Suggested criteria for prioritising projects and investment (based on road prioritisation
but could be applied more broadly)
1. Economic
This criteria is about measuring the current economic value of the road for industry
productivity purposes, including its contributions to supply chains and market access.
Industry and business users across sectors such as, but not limited to, mining, agribusiness,
tourism and services delivery will be considered. This criteria also relates to the value of
roads as alternate routes, such as the Hann Highway being an alternate route to the Bruce
Highway, especially in times of flood impacts.
2. Safety
This criteria is about addressing safety for all road users and compliance with minimum
standards.
3. Strategic Intent
This criteria is about future catalytic economic and community development opportunities –
such as investment attraction into new industries to support economic diversification and
creation of jobs.
4. Access and Capacity
This criteria is concerned with access availability for all road users including measuring the
risk immunity and ability of the road to withstand impacts such as weather events, days
closed and tonnage limits. This includes measuring capacity for dealing with congestion and
volume of traffic.
5. Social
This criteria relates to equity of access for communities to essential services. It supports the
development of greater connectivity for communities that rely on the road infrastructure for
accessing work, health, education and recreation activities.
Priority infrastructure needs include, but are not limited to:



Energy generation and transmission in Northern Australia;
Safer, better quality interstate and intrastate highways;
Greater efficiency on supply chains for major industries connecting production by road and
rail to distribution centres, ports and airports to international and domestic markets;


High speed broadband access for all as soon as possible;
Community infrastructure to support liveability.
Policies and funding programs must address the above priorities with a framework to ensure that
existing globally competitive industries remain and that new industries and businesses are attracted.
Funding programs must also ensure that smaller rural and remote communities are not
disadvantaged. We recommend that Councils play a significant lead role in community infrastructure
programs but also recommend that the not-for-profit sector can also be successful and productive
drivers of projects to meet local needs.
We also support the notion of developing a Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund to be promoted
to investors including superannuation funds and their members.
We encourage the Government to focus the first round of the National Stronger Regions Fund on
Northern Australia.
Improving land use and access
We support initiatives to provide more flexible and longer term tenure and to develop more efficient
native title land processes for the benefits of all involved.
Improving water access and management
We support policies and funding to address water capture to enable expansion of community
populations, agricultural, mining and other industries, in accordance though with sound
environmental management for current and future generations.
For example, we fully support the work and recommendations of the Northern Queensland Irrigated
Agriculture Strategy to develop the Flinders River catchment for agricultural expansion.
We also note the need to address and fund solutions through councils for improving the supply of
potable water in rural and remote communities in particular.
Promoting trade and investment and strengthening the business
environment
We support this initiative. We emphasize the need to deploy more resources into business support
services in the north, including Austrade and Ausindustry. Townsville, as the largest city in Northern
Australia, has not had an Austrade staff member or Tradestart representative located in the region
for several months. It is critical that senior Austrade positions are placed in major cities like
Townsville and more broadly in Northern Australia to help drive the focus on trade and investment.
While there is mention of a focus on Asia, we also wish to emphasize the opportunity to build on
past and current trade and investment relationships between Northern Australia, and in particular
Northern Queensland and the Pacific Island nations.
Fostering education, research and innovation
We support the focus in these areas and new initiatives such as the CRC for Northern Agriculture,
the proposed Tropical Knowledge and Innovation Centre in Townsville and the Be-Engulfed
Monsoon Centre in Normanton as examples.
Enhancing Governance
We support the focus in this area and make recommendations below.
Coordination and Accountability
We commend the government on the implementation of the Northern Australia Strategic
Partnership. We encourage the development of a national policy directive to make each policy and
funding decision based on its impact on the development of Northern Australia, regional Australia
and Australia as a whole. Without such a focus, it will be difficult to achieve targeted outcomes.
Defence is a vital industry and part of our Northern Australia communities. Given the geography of
today’s defence challenges, we suggest that a long term plan to further develop defence capability
and support services and industries in the north would be beneficial to the long term operations of
the military and Department of Defence.
Community Engagement
A critical area for development is biosecurity in the north. We support initiatives that will see the
Government invest in biosecurity planning and management from the north, for the north and
benefit of the whole nation.
We also encourage the government to consider the functionality and decision making roles of
departments that can be delivered outside Canberra and major capital cities. To maintain and grow
populations in regional areas, government jobs and in particular career paths to senior positions, will
make a significant positive impact.
We highly recommend the opportunity to collaborate with the Regional Development Australia
Committee network across the north. These eight organisations are strongly focussed on regional
development. While operating on very small budgets, they have a reach into large areas and across a
wide range of stakeholders to help promote and develop initiatives.
Capacity Building
A major gap in the development of local projects for developing communities is the lack of resources
and skills to support project development. This is an issue of capacity building and is also a highly
labour intensive role. There needs to be a delivery mechanism for more hands-on support to local
communities to develop projects. The RDA network is well linked in to such communities but is not
currently resourced to do this level of work but with extra resources could take on a more direct role
in this area.
Building the profile and brand of Northern Australia will be very important to achieve national
support for developing the north. We recommend that the government work with northern
stakeholders to develop the national messaging on why the development of the north is so
beneficial to all Australians.
In closing I note that the Regional Development Australia Committees, that are an Australian
Government initiative and are led by volunteers (in our case 10 at present) who donate their time to
driving and supporting regional development on behalf of the Australian Government, are not listed
in Appendix B (Selection of Existing Government and Non-Government Programmes and Initiatives)
of the Green Paper. We would have expected that these Committees would have been recognised
under the heading “Infrastructure and Regional Development”. To enhance regional development
and community engagement, it will be important for the government to recognise the work of those
who donate their time to supporting such government initiatives.
May I suggest that given the voluntary nature of their extensive commitment towards enhancing
regional development and community engagement, committee member's time and effort could be
recognised in support of the government initiatives, under the heading of Infrastructure and
Regional Development.
I would be pleased to expand on any comments or answer any questions you may have and can be
reached on xxxx xxx xxx or by email at xxxxxxxxxxxxx alternatively please don’t hesitate to make
contact with our Chief Executive Officer Ms Glenys Schuntner on 07 4410 3655 or at
ceo@rdanwq.org.au. We look forward to further engagement in the development of Northern
Australia.
Yours sincerely
Signature removed
Paul Woodhouse
Chairman
Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland Committee
Cc:
Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald
Senator the Hon Jan McLucas
Mr Ewen Jones, Member for Herbert
Mr George Christensen, Member for Dawson
The Hon Bob Katter, Member for Kennedy
APPENDIX
Background to RDA’s Interest in the Development of Northern Australia
Regional Development Australia was established by the Australian Government as a network of 55
Committees across Australia made up of local community leaders who are volunteers to champion
the development of long-term sustainable communities. (Refer to www.rda.gov.au)
The Regional Development Australia Committee for Townsville and North West Queensland (RDA) is
an incorporated not-for-profit association and has twelve ministerially appointed members. Funding
is provided by the Federal Government and in-kind support is provided by the Queensland
Government. The Committee’s purpose is to achieve a prosperous, sustainable, cohesive and
liveable region. Our region covers 15 local government areas of Boulia, Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria,
Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Doomadgee, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, McKinlay, Mornington Island,
Mount Isa, Palm Island, Richmond and Townsville. (Refer to www.rdanwq.org.au)
RDA regularly engages and consults with regional stakeholders including Mayors, Councillors and
Council Executives, Regional Economic Development Organisations, Natural Resource Management
Groups, Chambers of Commerce, State and Federal Government representatives and other
community representatives. Based on these consultations, RDA has developed a Regional Roadmap
2013-16 which informs the Federal and Queensland Governments of the regional priorities that
need to be addressed based on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Regional Economic
Development Framework. RDA works with partners across the region to progress priorities that
support the long term vision. (Refer to http://www.rdatanwq.org.au/regional-roadmap for the
Regional Roadmap and Appendix of data including information on consultations undertaken.)
Townsville and North West Queensland Region Snapshot
Population - 265,500 persons, accounting for 27% of Northern Australia’s population; 5.8% of
Queensland; 1.145% of Australia
Projected population - 386,652 persons by June 2031
Area - 449,190 km2, accounting for 15% of the Northern Australia’s region; 25.9% of Queensland;
5.8% of Australia
Population distribution - 70% of the region’s population lives in Townsville, the largest city in
northern Australia. Mount Isa is the second largest city with a population of 22,800 while 22% of the
region’s residents live in shires of populations from 494 to 17,900 persons, indicating the large
variation in population density across the region.
Age distribution - 21.1% of the persons in the region are aged 0 – 14 years; 68.3% are aged 16 – 64
years; 10.5% are aged 65 years and over. The population ratio of people in the 45 – 64 age statistical
bracket is 2.2 times the number currently in the 65 plus statistical bracket.
Education - 50.9% of residents aged over 15 years completed high school to Year 11 or 12. This
compares to a state average of 55.3%. Of residents aged over 15 years, 13,927 have not completed
education beyond Year 8.
Socio-Economic Status - The Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage suggests that the region
has a higher percentage of population that are more disadvantaged as compared to being in the
higher status quintiles. Noteworthy is that the Indigenous Local Government areas of Palm Island,
Doomadgee and Mornington Island experience almost 100% of their populations as being in the
most disadvantaged quintile.
Industry - The largest contributors to gross regional product are mining, manufacturing, public
administration and safety sectors, followed by construction and retail trade.
Employment - As compared to Queensland there is a larger percentage of employed in the
agricultural, mining, electricity, public administration and education and training industries.
Unemployment - Within the Townsville area, Palm Island experiences the highest unemployment
level at 9.3% (December 2012). Whilst in the Mount Isa area, unemployment as of June 2011 was
5.4%, with particularly high unemployment in the areas of Burke (17.6 per cent), Doomadgee (17.1
per cent), Mornington (12.1 per cent) and Carpentaria (11.3 per cent).
Potential for the development of the region’s mineral, energy, agricultural, tourism defence and
other industries
We provide comments on the above item in the Terms of Reference based on our experience and
knowledge of Townsville and North West Queensland’s globally significant industries and
opportunities. The Townsville and North West Queensland region has:

a strong and diverse regional economy, contributing a total of $18.4 billion to Queensland’s
Gross Regional Product (2010-2011), although sub-regions are often reliant on one core
industry such as mining or agriculture

an internationally significant mining industry, with an annual output worth approximately
$14.7 billion from the North West Minerals Province which contains an estimated 75% of
Queensland’s total metal resources, however there are problems with inefficiency and safety
on regional roads and rail that need to be addressed through planning and investment including
greater focus on transferring freight to the rail network

excellent potential for future mines to open but this requires research, planning and solutions
for capacity constraints

four major export-focussed minerals processing facilities in Townsville and Mount Isa, but they
are exposed to the high cost of energy which is impacting the viability of expanding operations
and long-term sustainability

substantial agricultural and grazing industries, with a focus on sugar (34% of Queensland’s
total production) and beef production (25% of Queensland’s cattle), with new growth
opportunities around irrigated agriculture in the Flinders River Precinct emerging

A leading world class university (top 4% in the world) presence in the region, through James
Cook University, with recognised research in areas such as marine sciences, biodiversity,
tropical ecology and environments, global warming, tourism, and tropical medicine and public
health care in under-served populations

A wide range of applied knowledge and expertise on how to innovate in industries operating in
the tropics, but this is yet to be fully developed into a successful framework for exporting to the
$40 trillion economy in the tropics of the world

excellent port infrastructure with three ports in Townsville (handled 12.8% value of all of
Queensland’s exports in 2011 – 2012), Lucinda and Karumba but further investment is required
into the rail access to enhance productivity
Critical economic and social infrastructure needed to support the long term growth of the region
As per the above item in the Terms of Reference for this Inquiry, we wish to provide advice on
priorities that we believe are not only relevant to the Townsville and North West Queensland region,
but also more broadly across Northern Australia.
The following list is drawn from our experience in consulting extensively with 15 councils and other
community representatives within the region and includes infrastructure, services and governance.
#
Priority
Potential actions
1
Investment into energy infrastructure,
and
in
particular,
electricity
generation and transmission including
renewable generation – this will
enable:
Electricity



2
Cost competitive delivery of
electricity to attract and retain
industry.
Reliable and affordable electricity
supplies
to
residents
and
business.
Lower emissions.
Investment into urgent regional road
priorities – this will improve:




Support the findings of the North and North West Queensland Sustainable Resource
Feasibility Studies Report.
Encourage investment into electricity infrastructure solutions.
Renewable Energy


Encourage investment attraction into renewable generation in the region.
Encourage investment into transmission infrastructure to support the investment into
electricity generation to get the electricity to markets.
Roads

Fund improvements to major northern roads, eg:
o
Bruce Highway - the Haughton River Floodplain and Pink Lily Lagoon
Upgrades (Townsville-Burdekin), the Townsville North Access
Intersections Upgrade, Cattle and Frances Creeks Upgrades (Ingham) and
Yellow Gin Creek Upgrade (Home Hill)
o
Kennedy Developmental Road/ Hann Highway - sealing of the Hann
Highway from The Lynd to Hughenden
o
Flinders Highway –improvements to safety hazards and flood prone
sectors of the Flinders and Barkly Highways
o
Savannah Way – upgrades to the Gulf Developmental Road from the
Kennedy Highway to the Burke Developmental Road, and then
Doomadgee Road East and West through to the NT border
o
Landsborough and Barkly Highways – upgrades from Winton to the NT
border

Encourage investment into intermodal transport solutions, for example, in Cloncurry.
Safety and efficiency on transport
routes for residents and tourists.
Productivity on supply chains for
industry to access markets.
#
Priority
Potential actions
3
Investment into rail, intermodal, port
and airport infrastructure to support
productivity on supply chains for
industry to access markets.
Rail


Encourage investment into rail transport productivity improvements and development
of capacity to meet future demand on the North West Rail Corridor connecting Mount
Isa and Townsville.
Invest into the Townsville Eastern Rail Corridor (TEARC) to improve productivity for
rail freight into the Port of Townsville.
Airports and Air Access




Provide more funding opportunities for local governments, and in particular those in
rural and remote areas, to address maintenance and improvements in airport
infrastructure including but not limited to runways, hand stands, terminals and
parking.
Provide funding support and encourage investment into airports and in particular
those that are under great pressure from the mining industry, such as Cloncurry
Airport.
Encourage an increase in air services.
Support the delivery of affordable air access for remote or isolated communities, such
as Mornington Island, Doomadgee, Normanton, Burketown, Boulia and Palm Island.
Ports


4
Communications
infrastructure
improvements across the region
including mobile and high speed
broadband access, to provide:


5
6
Support investment into expanded port operations at the Port of Townsville in
accordance with feasibility studies based on supply and market demand.
Support the development of a Master Plan for Karumba Port and identified
investment opportunities associated with feasibility studies based on supply and
market demand.
Communications


Residents, in particular those in
rural and remote areas, with
access to health, education and
other online services.
Industry
with
access
to
productivity improvements and
markets.
Support the roll out of high speed broadband to all communities with solutions that
will ensure equity of access and opportunity.
Provide funding programmes to address communications infrastructure gaps such as
mobile coverage black spots. E.g. mobile and broadband infrastructure into towns like
Greenvale and many like them across rural and remote areas in order to address
safety issues associated with communications regarding accidents and natural
disasters, connectivity for business purposes including exporting and for attracting
and retaining workers and their families.
Planning and solutions for water
quality improvements, sustainable
access to water and its storage to
expand agriculture, grazing and other
industries.
Water
Identification of new mining and
minerals processing opportunities in
the region to ensure the future
prosperity of the region.
Mining



Provide more funding opportunities for local governments and in particular those in
rural and remote areas, to address water quality, storage and supply requirements for
domestic consumption.
Encourage investment into water infrastructure for industrial and agricultural
developments.
Support the findings of the MITEZ North West Queensland Strategic Development
Study to identify new mining and minerals processing opportunities.
#
Priority
Potential actions
7
Development of the branding,
positioning and exporting of Tropical
Knowledge and Expertise.
Tropical Expertise




8
Improved education attainment levels
to provide more opportunities in the
region to ensure the future prosperity
of the region.
Education




9
10
11
Land
Funding opportunities for Local
Governments to develop community
infrastructure for access, health,
culture, the arts, sport and recreation.
Funding
Maintenance and improvement of
health
and
social
services
infrastructure to meet current and
projected needs.
Health and Social Services Facilities





Coordinated emergency, social and
health care, including provision of
aged care facilities and health care
services.
Availability of affordable housing.
Simplify Native Title processes for all parties
Provide funding programs to Local Government to address enhanced liveability for
attraction and retention of people.
Invest in major regional lifestyle infrastructure that will encourage and support
attraction of workers and families to Northern Australia (eg Stadium Northern
Australia in Townsville)
Invest in facilities that will meet regional needs, such as The Salvation Army MultiPurpose Centre in Townsville (addressing drug and alcohol rehabilitation) and The
Village project developed by Flexi Queensland in Ayr (providing housing solutions for
those with a disability).
Provide funding opportunities for high care and services facilities throughout the
region.
Investigate unique partnership opportunities with the State Government to meet
increasing aged needs
Health and Aged Care


13
Elevate the importance of and awareness of the issue of lower education attainment
levels in the region (within the community – not just in the education sector) and
develop strategies to achieve better outcomes.
Ensure equality of access to high speed broadband to enable engagement by all in
online education opportunities.
Support initiatives that develop skills and encourage lifetime learning.
Support programs to develop health literacy
Land tenure security for leasehold
land, lessening the disincentive for
investment in the region.

12
Fund the CRC for Northern Australia, promoting research and business linkages for
industries of strength and opportunity in the north.
Fund collaboration to position and develop business and particularly export
opportunities associated with tropical expertise.
Provide funding support to the Tropical Knowledge and Innovation Centre – a
partnership between James Cook University and the private sector - as identified in
the Northern Queensland Strategy.
Position Australian Trade Commission executives within the major cities in the region
to promote opportunities for exporting, in particular to other tropical economies.
Provide opportunities for greater collaboration to streamline Federal and State health
and social services delivery to reduce duplication of services, identify gaps and create
efficiency gains.
Ensure the equality of access to high speed broadband to enable access by all, and
especially those in remote areas, to tele-health and online health education services.
Housing


Investigate innovative multi agency solutions to create supply of affordable housing.
Create policy and funding programs to attract investment to meet social and
community needs.
#
Priority
Potential actions
14
Interconnection abilities through
transport options for people and
freight.
Public Transport
Promotion of the region for:
Agriculture


15

Recognition and development of
the
region’s
competitive
advantages in existing industries
and the attraction of investment
and business in both existing and
new sectors.
Attracting skilled workers.






Lead discussion and research on public transport options for regional towns.
Encourage investment into public transport as an enabler for better outcomes in
health, education, youth engagement, social inclusion and community well-being and
justice.
Support the findings of the Northern Queensland Irrigated Agricultural Strategy
Governance Committee that focuses on the Flinders River and Gilbert River for
expanding irrigated agriculture in the region.
Encourage investment into value adding for agriculture and pastoral industries.
Provide funding into projects that promote innovation and greater productivity such
as the Pacific Reef Bioremediation Aquaculture Project in Ayr which is a partnership
between MBD Energy and James Cook University and is included in the Northern
Queensland Strategy.
Support the strengthening and development of existing primary and downstream
processing industries, especially those with competitive advantage.
Promote opportunities for exporting, in particular to Asia, through Australian Trade
Commission work in the region.
Industries


Support the strengthening and development of existing industries, especially those
with competitive advantage. For example support investment attraction into new
tourism infrastructure including educational tourism such as the Be Engulfed
Monsoon Experience / Monsoon Centre in Normanton, Carpentaria Shire.
Support the attraction of new industries, especially those that can leverage access to
high speed broadband as it is rolled out in the region.
Promotion

16
Valuing of the resource base and its
contributing value to the region’s
output and industry.
Invest in regional branding and promotional activities that raise the profile of
Northern Australia, its opportunities and advantages to investors, financial
institutions, industries, customers, workers and tourists – both within Australia and
overseas
Natural Resource Planning

Implement funding programs that support the region’s Natural Resource Management
Groups.
Environmental Stewardship



17
18
Develop policies that adhere to the principles of natural resource management
stewardship.
Encourage investment into facilities and programs that support natural resource
management.
Support the case for appropriate natural resource management stewardship in new
industrial development proposals.
Coordinated and planned delivery of
infrastructure needs for the region.
Planning
Support collaborative arrangements
that will strengthen opportunities for
the region.
Statistical Information




Develop and implement a Northern Australia 30-Year Infrastructure Plan.
Collaborate with State and Territory authorities for additional planning instruments,
as required, to assist in coordination of future infrastructure and land use.
Ensure ongoing collection and distribution of ABS and other data to decision-makers
at all levels of government and in communities.
Undertake a service population profile to be undertaken throughout the region. This
will then take into account the visiting Fly-In, Fly-Out or Drive-In, Drive-Out workforce
impact on service suppliers.
Leadership

Support the promotion of leadership, development and award and recognition
#
Priority
Potential actions

programs.
Promote individuals and organisations making a difference to the sustainable future of
the region.
Collaboration


Utilise the RDA network to enhance community consultation and development of the
White Paper on Northern Australia Development.
Reference existing materials and data collected by the RDA network and partnerships
such as the Northern Queensland Strategy.
Engagement


Regularly consult with regional stakeholders, such as the RDA network.
Monitor regional media for developments on regional issues.
Governance


Build a larger Australian Government presence throughout the region.
Support the Queensland Government to decentralise government agencies as part of
the Queensland Plan’s regionalisation focus.
Source: 2013-16 Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland Regional Roadmap, 2013