News
Flinders Shire to beef up cattle processing facility
Flinders Shire is poised to take further advantage of its position as one of the best cattle producing regions in the world.
Today it was announced that the council had signed a structured and detailed Hughenden Processing Facility Project Development Deed to advance the development of the Hughenden meat processing facility and feedlot with its Chinese partner Ms Miao Wang representing CNVM Investment Pty Ltd.
State Budget paves the way for some good news, but falls short of a fair deal for NWQ
Leaders from North West Queensland have welcomed some good news from the 2019 State Budget but point out the shortfall in fair investment that the state’s powerhouse north west region deserves.
The nine Mayors of the collective councils of North West Queensland (NWQROC) have welcomed State Budget commitments that benefit the region and commend the Queensland Government for its support and approach to working with locals following the unprecedented flooding events earlier this year.
NWQ Mayors welcome election responses from parties
The nine mayors from North West Queensland would like to thank the people of Townsville for supporting their mates in the North West, as the two major and three cross-bench parties commit their support for North West Queensland and agree that a strong Townsville needs a strong region.
The mayors met in Townsville on 9-10 May and invited parties and candidates to take the final opportunity to formally respond to their request for a better regional deal before the Federal Election.
Mayors unite to bring campaign to Herbert
Nine mayors from North West Queensland have united to fight for a fair regional deal, bringing their campaign to the electorate of Herbert with a clear message for candidates - a strong Townsville, needs a strong North West Queensland.
The mayors chose to meet in Townsville (9-10 May) inviting parties and candidates to take a final opportunity to formally respond to their request for a better regional deal before the Federal Election.
News from the North West - Autumn 2019
Welcome to North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) News from the North West for Autumn 2019.
It's been a pretty wild ride for our region since the last edition of our newsletter with much of our region hit hard by unprecedented flooding in February.
Building Our Regions funding a welcome boost for NWQ infrastructure projects
North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils has welcomed the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment of $2.4million into three critical infrastructure projects in our region through the Building our Regions (BoR) program.
With the region on the road to recovery following unprecedented flooding, the works provide a boost to economic and job growth for our region.
This funding is backed up by the strong commitment from our local councils to advocate for and secure investment so our region continues to be attractive for people and business to live, work and invest.
Federal Budget delivers some good news but falls short of a fair regional deal
Leaders from the eight councils of North West Queensland will meet in Karumba on 7 – 8 August, renewing their drive to shape the future of the region ahead of the next federal election.
The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) was established by the eight councils in 2013 to advocate and deliver on agreed priorities for the region.
NWQROC Chair, and Mayor of Carpentaria Shire Council, Cr Jack Bawden said the meeting marked a pivotal point for NWQROC as the region’s importance on state and national agendas continued to grow.
NWQROC Statement: Federal micro-grid funding a step in the right direction
The Mayors of nine communities from North West Queensland (NWQ) have welcomed the federal government’s $50.4 million commitment of feasibility funds toward microgrid solutions for regional and remote communities.
This announcement is one step in the right direction as NWQ communities continue to seek commitment to deliver reliable and affordable energy across a large, diverse region that has long been ignored.
Faced with ageing and inadequate infrastructure, a more comprehensive, fair regional deal is needed to deliver the first world energy solutions, as well as transport, water infrastructure, energy, communications and community facilities, that hardworking North West Queenslanders deserve.
NWQROC Statement: Strategic road commitments welcome
Mayors of North West Queensland welcome the Federal Government’s announcement today to invest in a number of roads in our region as part of a $730 million commitment to NQ strategic roads.
This ticks off several projects in the roads platform of our communities’ strategic Six-point Plan for the future. That Six-point plan covers needs across transport, water infrastructure, energy, communications and community facilities.
As our communities continue to recover from unprecedented flooding, we also acknowledge the valuable support we have received to help us in the initial recovery period.
Federal Government delivers yet another southern capital city deal - while NWQ gets left in the dark
The Federal Government has today announced yet another southern “Capital City Deal” - signing a $551million deal to underpin a "bright future" for Adelaide - while our North West Queensland communities continue to be left in the dark.
As our region begins its long-term recovery from the recent devastating flooding, the government is instead focused on delivering a long-term deal framed as making yet another southern capital city ‘more liveable’ - while our regions still lack critical investment in living essentials for infrastructure, transport and social services.
Region-wide response critical to Northern recovery say flood affected Mayors
The collective force of leaders from across flood-hit northern Queensland have made their mark in Canberra as they push for a united regional recovery response.
The delegation including Townsville Enterprise, the Regional Organisation of Councils from North and North West Queensland (NQROC and NWQROC) are joined by peak industry bodies at Parliament House. The two-day meeting schedule (Tuesday 19 February to Wednesday 20 February) with key Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack MP and opposition leader Bill Shorten MP.
Where we come from, we stick together, and neighbours help one another. That’s why we’re working with Townsville and wider North Queensland - we have a shared challenge and we should look to shared solutions for now and into the future.
Leaders from across Northern Queensland start road to recovery in Canberra
Leaders from North West Queensland are in Canberra this week as part of a united Northern Queensland delegation meeting with our nation’s leaders to continue to push for recovery support following the devastating flooding events across the state’s north.
Burke Shire Mayor, Cr Ernie Camp, Mount Isa City Mayor, Cr Joyce McCulloch, and NWQ Regional Organisation of Councils Executive Officer, Greg Hoffman PSM, will join Townsville Enterprise, North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils and peak industry bodies.
The delegation will take a united message from the North to Parliament House seeking immediate action on the economic rebuild of communities across North Queensland and North West Queensland in the wake of one of the most devastating natural disasters we have seen in recent memory.
NWQ needs a regional deal for the future now more than ever
As North West Queensland faces the road to recovery from its greatest natural disaster, the leaders of the region have made a call to the wider community on their urgent need for a fair regional “Future Deal” from Canberra.
Even as our region counts its losses from devastating flooding, the Federal Government is set to deliver yet another “City Deal”, ramping up its already significant investment in South East Queensland.
Representing the eight regional Mayors and Carpentaria Shire, Mayor Cr Jack Bawden said politicians are yet to commit to the necessary deal for our region and is time for real regional investment beyond the east coast.
NWQ Leaders deliver pre-budget submission to Canberra
The leaders of North West Queensland have delivered a submission to the federal Treasurer ahead of the 2019-20 Budget as they continue their push to secure a fair deal for the region.
Each hardworking local in North West Queensland (NWQ) contributes $176,000 per capita to the national economy – nearly three times more than elsewhere in Queensland at only $66,000.
Despite this significant impact on our nation’s economy, we don’t see the return on investment we deserve.
Without fair investment from Canberra and Brisbane in infrastructure, communications and community our small, local communities can’t keep delivering this massive contribution that our whole nation benefits from.
Board meeting starts 2019 with a splash
The first NWQROC board meeting of 2019 was hosted in Hughenden, with a three-day agenda scheduled from 30 January to 1 February 2019.
Roads, water and sewerage were top of agenda for Mayors, Deputies, CEOs and other attendees from councils and agencies on day one. The group agreed to form new collaboration on water and sewerage to introduce new technology, save money and share resources.
The Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2018-19 to 2021-22 funding and flood damage were on the agenda for day two. Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads regional staff joined the North West Queensland Regional Roads and Transport Group (NWQRRTG) meeting.
News from the North West - Summer 2018-19
Welcome to the first North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) News from the North West for Summer 2018/19.
We’ve come a long way since 2013 when the NWQROC was established. As the end of 2018 draws near, I am pleased to look back on the year and see all that NWQROC has achieved in the last 12 months or so.
Take a look at just some of our highlights and achievements in 2018.
NWQROC response on future of Longreach Ag College
The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) recognises the significant economic and social impact the Longreach Pastoral College has had on its local community and beyond.
NWQROC calls on the Queensland Government to work with the Central West Queensland organisation of councils (RAPAD) in determining the future of the Longreach Pastoral College.
NWQROC Executive Officer Greg Hoffman PSM said the eight mayors of the North West Queensland were most concerned when the Queensland Government announced the college would close at the end of 2019 as recommended in the Coaldrake Report.
Collaborative six-point election plan gets tick of approval in Canberra
The $5.1 billion region of North West Queensland was put firmly in the political spotlight as community leaders launched their first election campaign platform in Canberra on 26 November.
Chair of the North West Regional Organisation of Councils, Mayor Jack Bawden led the delegation representing a diverse, powerhouse of a region around the size of Tasmania and Victoria combined.
Cr Bawden said the leaders had come together to ensure a strategic, collective voice was heard on the national stage to make sure their communities and local businesses stay productive for the future.
NWQROC launches election campaign in canberra
Community leaders from North West Queensland will be taking their fight for a fairer regional deal to the voters of Australia following the launch of their first election campaign platform in Canberra today.
North West Queensland is part of Australia’s engine room pumping over $5billion in to the economy, with hard-working North West Queenslanders contributing nearly three times more per capita to the rest of the country - some $176,000 per capita to the national economy compared to $66,000 from elsewhere in Queensland. Yet these hard-working communities barely get the smell of an oily rag.
North West Queensland Mayors head to Canberra to fight for fairer regional deal
Leaders from the eight councils of North West Queensland are stepping into the national political arena and are on the road to Canberra and beyond to launch their first national campaign ahead of the next federal election.
North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) will officially launch its campaign on Monday 26 November 2018 at Parliament House.
This federal election and beyond, the Mayors, Councils and our communities are asking political leaders to support this local vision to make North West Queensland a region attractive for people and businesses to live, work and invest – and actually develop and properly fund a regional plan.