News
Rex reaches agreement with Queensland Government
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 united on road to 2020 State Budget
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.
Locals in the spotlight as North West Queensland councils Get Ready for the wet
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.
News from the North West - Summer 2019
Welcome to the latest edition of News for the North West as we wrap up 2019 and look forward to what we’ll be getting up to in 2020. There’s a lot that’s happened in 2019, now where to start?
It wouldn’t be a lie to say it’s been a busy and challenging year. With flood recovery, federal election campaigning and more. Read more about what we've been up to in 2019 and what's ahead in 2020.
$33M for North West Queensland economic transformation
Queensland Government statement - 19 November 2019
The future prosperity of the North West Queensland economy has been further boosted today thanks to a $33.3 million investment by the Palaszczuk Government.
Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said the North West Queensland Economic Diversification Strategy Implementation Plan 2019–2021, developed in consultation with local stakeholders and the community, sets out actions to deliver 13 diversification initiatives.
News from the North West - Spring 2019
Welcome to the latest edition of News for the North West.
We’ve covered some significant ground since our last newsletter. With our Federal Election campaign wrapping up in May, we continue to plan for the future and make progress in securing a fair regional deal.
NWQROC on the road to regional solutions
The North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency (NQLIRA) held a series of stakeholder events across Northern Queensland throughout August and September. The sessions look to inform the development of a strategy for the long-term recovery and resilience of areas affected by the 2019 monsoon trough.
Future looking bright for North West Queensland
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.
Bush Councils Convention 2019
The Bush Councils Convention 2019 was held in Roma on 6 – 8 August by the Local Government Association of Queensland. It proved to be an impressive two days with a great event that highlighted the strengths of our regional councils and provided a valuable platform for productive conversations.
Our Mayors once again proudly represented our region, continuing their drive to deliver a fair regional deal for the North West.
Meetings set strategic direction towards 2020
NWQROC Regional Deal Campaign on path to State Election 2020
North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) is continuing its drive for fair government investment in our region as it prepares to hit the campaign trail once again ahead of the State Election on 31 October 2020.
The development of a State-focussed strategy inline with our recent federal campaign got underway at the NWQROC board meeting in Julia Creek on 30-31 July 2019. The momentum gained from our federal campaign keeps pace as we continue to engage with relevant Commonwealth and State departmental officers about a Fair Regional Deal for the North West.
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.