Central Queensland Councils have teamed up with the State Government to set up a New Millennium Steering Committee to investigate economic development and ecological sustainability across the region.
Committee Chair and Rockhampton Mayor, Margaret Strelow, said the group would monitor recommendations made in the Central Queensland Regional Growth Management Framework report, which was funded by the State Government.
The report resulted from community, industry, and government input over three years. It identifies high priority areas in resource use, conservation and management; economic development; infrastructure; social and cultural development; education, training and research; planning; and governance.
The Central Queensland committee will look at the priority area of economic development, including strategic planning, best practice technology processes and management, the development of a sustainable plantation forestry industry, alternative energy sources, and industry diversification. The committee includes Rockhampton, Gladstone, Banana, Bauhinia, Calliope, Duaringa, Emerald, Fitzroy, Jericho, Livingstone, Mount Morgan, Peak Downs and Taroom Councils, and the Woorabinda Community.
“Central Queensland has a nationally significant agricultural base, many natural assets, and economic resources, especially mineral resources,” Councillor Strelow said. “There is no reason why we can’t be the most diverse and prosperous region in Queensland, if not Australia. The steering committee has Local Government representation from three sub regional groups in Central Queensland, plus representation from State and Federal Government, business and industry, youth, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
