News

I’m sure we’re all looking forward to seeing the back of 2020 after a tough year for the entire world.

Despite the challenges, NWQROC and our member councils have been keeping up the advocacy for our region and counting our blessings.

Leaders from North West Queensland have welcomed some good news from the 2020 State Budget, but highlight the missed opportunities to invest in the North West as the State continues to face COVID-19 impacts and budget restoration.

The nine mayors of North West Queensland (NWQROC) have welcome commitments re-announced as part of the Budget that benefit the region and commend the Queensland Government for its support and approach during the pandemic.

The Mayors of North West Queensland have published a 2020 State Election Candidate Scorecard highlighting the responses received to their call to commit to “Supercharge the Region that Helps to Supercharge the State”.

The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) wrote to each of the major parties and independent candidate contesting the election seeking a response on the priorities that will help communities across North West Queensland grow and prosper.

Councils across north-west Queensland will soon use smart technology to communicate regional disaster risk after securing more than $50,000 through the 2020-21 Get Ready Queensland program.

Funding will be administered by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) and strengthens the Palaszczuk Government’s efforts to make Queensland the most disaster-resilient state in Australia.

Queensland Treasurer and Minister responsible for the QRA Cameron Dick said seven north-west councils are pooling their funding to purchase push notification beacons that will link to a new Get Ready North West Queensland app.

Queensland Government media statement

The Palaszczuk Government will provide a multi-million-dollar economic recovery boost to secure more than 1,000 resource and manufacturing jobs across North Queensland, from Mount Isa to Townsville.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the funding would assist the ongoing operations of the Mount Isa copper smelter, the Townsville copper refinery and manufacturer Incitec Pivot.

Queensland Government media statement

The Palaszczuk Government has released an economy-boosting strategy for North West Queensland to attract investment and deliver jobs in resources, agriculture, tourism, business and industry.

Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said the North West Queensland Economic Diversification Strategy was the result of extensive collaboration and consultation with regional stakeholders and community and will be backed by an implementation plan to quickly deliver outcomes.

More than $5billion injected into the economy annually, industries that have survived (even grown!) during the COVID-19 pandemic, a region of lifters committed to growing not only their region, but sharing the benefits with the State – that’s worth investing in!

Today the eight councils of North West Queensland launched their 2020 Election Platform and will be calling on candidates to commit to its plan to supercharge the North West region and Queensland post-COVID and long-term.

The creation of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) has been welcomed by member councils, Federal and State Government representatives as a proactive, timely and constructive initiative which will lead to improved outcomes for Western Queensland, the State and the nation.

Twenty-one councils have made the historic step to unite as the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils. The group held its Inaugural Assembly in Longreach on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 July 2020 with all member councils represented, with the exception of Burke Shire and Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council.

Assembly attendees included two Federal Ministers; a Senator; two State Ministers; the three local members; two Directors General and senior Federal and State departmental officers; President and CEO of the LGAQ; and media.

Leaders from across 60% of Queensland together with senior State and Federal government representatives will gather in Longreach on 27-28 July 2020 for the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils Inaugural Assembly.

The two-day program will focus on formalising the new Alliance and developing long term priorities for Western Queensland which initially will form the basis of an October 2020 State Election Platform.

Members of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils have welcomed funding from the Australian and Queensland governments which will see up to $200 million in funding invested in vital roads projects across the region.

The announcement this week means that works on key inland corridors can get underway now and over the next six months, providing an immediate boost to our regional economies, business, industry and local jobs.

Members of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils have welcomed funding from the Australian and Queensland governments which will see up to $200 million in funding invested in vital roads projects across the region.

The announcement this week means that works on key inland corridors can get underway now and over the next six months, providing an immediate boost to our regional economies, business, industry and local jobs.

Camping out and catching a barra, digging for dinosaur bones, visiting relatives across the North West and more, are all back on the cards for Queenslanders with further relaxing of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Mayors from the councils of North West Queensland have welcomed the latest announcement by the Premier, which has lifted restrictions on Queenslanders travelling within the state including overnight stays, from 1 June.

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.

The mayors of North West Queensland (NWQROC) have welcomed the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program announcement which will see $4.9million invested across our local councils.

This funding adds further to the good news for our region following on from the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions announcement earlier this week.The mayors of North West Queensland (NWQROC) have welcomed the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program announcement which will see $4.9million invested across our local councils.

This funding adds further to the good news for our region following on from the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions announcement earlier this week.

Queensland Government Statement - 19 May 2020

The Palaszczuk Government is fast tracking support for the massive CopperString 2.0 high voltage transmission line to provide cheaper power and turbo-charge investment across our world-class North West Minerals Province.

By extending the national electricity grid from Townsville across the North to Mount Isa, CopperString is expected to underpin the creation of thousands of minerals mining and industrial manufacturing jobs for generations to come and stimulate large-scale renewable energy investment.

Members of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils have welcomed the decision by the Australian and Queensland governments to deliver $185million of vital roads project funding ahead of planned investment timeframes.

The announcement this week means works will commence sooner on key inland freight corridors providing an important stimulus response to support regional communities, business and industry at this critical time.

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.

All outback Queensland communities applaud the State Government for taking additional measures to help keep the region COVID-19 free.

The Western Queensland Alliance of Councils - a group representing 21 local councils of outback Queensland - has moved to acknowledge the responsive leadership shown by the State government to address the Alliance’s concerns over the potential of government employees to spread coronavirus as they return from Easter leave.

Statement from Western Queensland Alliance of Councils:

Medical supplies, health workers and essential equipment are amongst the long list of critical services that are potentially now out of reach for remote and regional communities in Western Queensland with Regional Express (Rex) suspending all services across the State indefinitely.

Mayors from across Western Queensland have expressed their disappointment in Rex’s decision and have called on the Queensland Government to deliver a solution as a matter of urgency.

Carpentaria Local Disaster Management Group – Air Closure Advice

The Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) has taken the decision to further restrict the movement of non-essential persons into the Shire via Air Travel effective immediately to assist in reducing the risk of an outbreak or spread of a pandemic in Carpentaria Shire.

COVID-19 RESPONSE STATEMENT – 27 MARCH 2020

As the Queensland Government has closed the western and southern state borders, the 21 councils of Western Queensland are stepping up to monitor and restrict access to their communities.

With the threat of Coronavirus (COVID-19) rising in Queensland, Western Queensland’s leaders have made the move to restrict travel not only to protect locals and essential service workers, but potential travellers as well.

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.

On the back of the Palaszczuk Government’s announcement today it would provide a $4 billion stimulus package for households and businesses, the leaders of Western Queensland have outlined a plan to keep their regions delivering for the nation as we unite to face down the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayors from 21 councils are calling on the State Government to provide an economic stimulus package as soon as possible to ensure the region can continue delivering not just for its local communities, but state-wide – from agricultural products to other essential resources for households and industry.

Statement from Regional Express (Rex) Airlines - 8 March 2020

Regional Express (Rex) today announces that an agreement has been reached with the Queensland Government for the provision of a reduced schedule under a variation of the existing service contract that covers the Northern 1 & 2 routes, the Western 1 & 2 routes and the Gulf route. The reduced schedule will see all communities on these routes receive at least one return service a week.

Outback Queensland communities have united to lobby the Queensland Government for a single spending priority ahead of the 2020 State Budget - roads.

North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC), Remote Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) and South West Queensland Local Government Association (SWQLGA) acting as the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils is appealing to the State Government to increase investment in roads to provide the most beneficial and far reaching impact on the entire region.

Six councils from across North West Queensland have developed a new online resource, bringing together local experience and know-how to help locals and visitors prepare and respond during the wet season and beyond.

Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Doomadgee, Flinders, McKinlay and Richmond councils developed the platform www.getreadynwq.com.au, through the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC), teaming up with local leaders, agencies, business and community to create the content.