Water, telecommunications and transport infrastructure are the major barriers to developing Northern Australia according to delegates on the GrowQld forum panel at Cloncurry today.
Queensland Country Life and its sister paper, the North West Star hosted a community forum in Cloncurry this afternoon to discuss a range of issues affecting community, business and industry across the North West.
The forum heard a moderated discussion from a panel of eleven local experts from the health, education, banking and agricultural sectors as well as representatives from local government.
Local Cloncurry landholder, Don McDonald said three things were needed to drive development across the North West – water, improved telecommunications and better transport infrastructure.
He identified inland rail as the “missing link” and said governments needed to invest in such “nation building” projects to ensure the economic and social prosperity across Northern Australia.
“The Federal Government has announced a bit of money for the Melbourne to Brisbane line which is great but we need to see Mount Isa connected to Tennant Creek and Darwin to see real advantages here,” Mr McDonald said.
“All this talk about developing Northern Australia means nothing if we don’t get the infrastructure to get our products to market.”
Health services and access to support for mental health was also raised as a significant issue for the region.
North West Health and Hospital Service chairman, Paul Woodhouse said he was eagerly anticipating improvements in personal E-health which would enhance access to a patients’ medical history.
“If I had my way we’d put an NLIS ear tag in everyone when they were born and every time they visited a doctor and went to hospital they’d get scanned and all that information would go with them,” he joked.
More reports to come online and in next week’s Queensland Country Life and North West Start.
