Game Changer Needed for Central Queensland

Too much reliance on 1 industry is going to leave this region vulnerable in the future. A game changer is needed. And planning for it should be happening NOW. And maybe it could be happening like I described in last weeks newspaper column.

Top of the agenda was approval for funding a business plan for a bullet train service linking the Central Queensland coast to Uluru.  It had taken some time for it to finally get to this stage.  Some in the room thought too long.  However after much politicking, debate, agreement for collaborative action and community pressure the combined Councils of Central Queensland were finally agreeing to take this potential game changer project to the next stage.  The ability to link two internationally recognised Australian icons – the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru with an ultra modern form of transport through the heart of Central Queensland, roughly following latitude 23.5^o did appear marketable.  Particularly the maturing market of China and its growing middle class.  The ability to package this unique holiday experience in 7 days with diversity and bucket list locations satisfied the available secondary research findings.  This indeed appeared the potential game changer Central Queensland was going to need.  A game changer to not only keep the region strong after the resource boom peaks, but for mining communities like Blackwater to remain sustainable.  With a business plan the combined Central Queensland Councils would push for the necessary funding and infrastructure.  Preliminary discussions with the Australian owned Hassell to relocate their bullet train research and development team from Melbourne to CQ University Australia, Rockhampton campus to work in conjunction with their Centre for Rail Engineering had already taken place.  The State Government were already aware of plans to lay new tracks between Rockhampton and Gladstone for the bullet train.  The benefits of a safer, more environmentally friendly mode of transport between the two cities utilised primarily by Gladstone workers living with their families in the Rockhampton region were becoming harder to ignore.  The business plan would also investigate a second stage between Rockhampton and Blackwater serving a similar need before extending the track to Uluru.  Thus by satisfying an established need in its first two stages revenue could be generated as the project developed.  The political environment was deemed more acceptable to the project chances of obtaining the necessary funding.  Community pressure of the perceived all take and no give by the southern capitals and what the Central Queensland landscape would look like after the resource boom – of one littered with holes and hills of over burden trying to sustain some spindly vegetation was starting to be noticed and talk of committees being established to report on the concerns were being discussed during question time. 

The time for a game changer for Central Queensland was definitely now. The poor planning affecting Gladstone massive development was evidence enough.

 Imagine if we don’t start planning now for the post resource boom period. Without a planned game changer what will happen.

Our future is not to see, it is to create.  Community pressure is an important factor in creating a future we aspire to.