Experience: An Advantage When Painting The Big Picture

Inexperienced persons need not apply.  I read this statement in a position vacant advertisement for underground miners.  “The long term impacts of the industry were not fully understood”.  “This is an evolving space and certainly our knowledge is evolving”.  These statements were attributed to the Queensland Water Commissioner about the impact of the coal seam gas industry on ground water supplies.

I found these statements interesting.  A common cry you hear about the mining industry is that yes there are jobs to be filled, but you need experience to get them.  Fair enough, underground mining can be a dangerous environment; inexperience could prove costly, financially and physically.  However we seem prepared to risk our underground water and our environment with inexperience.  As I said, interesting.  So with a mining industry apparently not keen to train its employees, preferring to fly them in and out, what is Central Queensland getting in return?  More, bigger ports and more railway lines to get coal to overseas markets quicker are not pleasing everyone.  Promises of spending some of the billion dollars in royalties and taxes earned from CQ in CQ on better roads, etc., appear to be caught up in the usual political blame game between the State and Federal Governments.  Plus with the Gold Coast having won the bid to host the Commonwealth Games and admissions the costs are likely to be higher than anticipated (gee that one caught me by surprise). I think we know where a good proportion of the royalties will be spent over the next six years.  Even if the promises of better roads are realised, what is Central Queensland’s future post the resource boom.  For all the money that will be made out of CQ what will we have to show for it?  How will CQ keep growing, presenting a dynamic, vibrant, innovative image that continues to attract people to live, work and play in?  After all decentralisation is vital for Queensland’s future.  Any person who really thinks about it would realise that continued growth in only the south east corner of the State is unhealthy for the State’s economy.  I hear that aspirations I have raised in this column have been scoffed at by some community leaders.  They’re entitled to their opinions, but let’s start to hear their aspirations (and of those who want to replace them).  Particularly for the post resource boom era.  We need big picture aspirations for Central Queensland and real commitment to achieving them.  If CQ needs a reason why, consider the history of Mount Morgan.  That’s experience we should take heed of.

Re-branding Rockhampton - A Champion Idea

I was reading the Qantas Link magazine and in it was a feature on the Capricorn region.  In the story was a comment referring to Rockhampton as the City of Champions.  I wondered if my previous columns calling for a change to the branding of Rockhampton away from Beef Capital of Australia to the Home of Australia’s Future Champions were having an impact.  Whether they did is immaterial, what is good is that change to the branding is not only being considered but implemented.  Could I suggest – ramp it up.  At the Rockhampton airport have a wall of champions.  Photos of champions that are either Rockhampton born or largely developed their talents while living in Rockhampton.  Imagine the sporting champions alone; Rod Laver, Jamie Dwyer, Anna and Kerrie Meares, Mark Knowles, Duncan Armstrong, Kenrick Tucker , Kim Ireland, Glen Housman, Rod Reddy (I apologise to the many others not listed).  As well as the champions in cultural, business, politics, science and primary production.  Located near the baggage carousel such a wall would arguably create quite a positive impact on visitors.  Supporting a slogan like ‘City of Champions’ with tangible evidence.  Other than knowing how to spell the name Rockhampton, our airport at the moment doesn’t give visitors much impression of the city or region until they get to the bull statue on the way out.  Maybe something to consider, other than who is parking where.

Also with the new south side pool complex being completed this year, could we get away from calling everything Rockhampton Regional whatever.  Could Duncan Armstrong and Glen Housman maybe receive some acknowledgement within the complex? This to would help develop new branding for the city. Rockhampton has changed and will continue to change, let’s see the marketing of our city and region reflect this.

Election Promises: Lets Get them In Writing

With a State election imminent, lets start hearing the candidates (or their parties) vision/aspirations for Central Queensland.  After all, if the opinion polls are correct and LNP win, arguably it will be more likely Clive Palmers giant mine near Alpha will eventuate.  If this is good news or bad news is a matter of opinion and learned argument.  More jobs will be the catch cry – where will they be filled from though?  Or will it be mined by remote and if so where will the controls be?  More royalties and taxes will be earned.  But where will they be spent?  Plus what about the existing concerns of inadequate infrastructure, doctors, accommodation, prostitution; will a giant mine ease these?  Then there is the biggie – What is to become of CQ after the resource boom ends?

Dare I suggest the media send each candidate within CQ relevant questions from the below list and ask for their written response which could be published in this publication.  If they are a party candidate ideally their responses are countersigned by their leader.  Central Queensland is going to be an even greater contributor to the states economy, let us start hearing what CQ will get back out of it.  So here is my list of questions I’d like answered to help determine who will best champion CQ in Brisbane and thus whom to vote for:

Will you move a motion in parliament along the lines of Western Australia’s Royalties for Regions fund?

Will you champion the early roll out of the NBN (National Broadband Network) in Central Queensland?

(I realise this is more a Federal issue, but it need some champions – or we could be waiting for up to 10 years)

Will you champion better transport infrastructure between Rockhampton and Gladstone as well as the rest of Central Queensland (a fast train between Rockhampton to Alpha!)? 

What infrastructure/projects will you particularly be pushing to enhance the liveability of Central Queensland?  Will you support the dredging of Port Alma in order for it to handle the larger coal carriers? 

Will you actively promote legislation enforcing mines to treat their discharge before being released into our river systems? 

What is your position on requiring mining companies to provide infrastructure to encourage workers and their families to live near where they work? 

Will you support initiatives like scholarships for medical students in return for fixed term appointments in mining communities? 

What is you plan to flood proof Rockhampton and how will you make this eventuate and by when? 

Will you support a foreshore development that attracts more tourists to Yeppoon and Capricorn Coast? 

What is your vision for Central Queensland after the resource boom ends?

Will you actively push for a high school at Gracemere?

This list is not comprehensive.  If LNP do win as predicted, no doubt we will hear how the States financial position was worse then they were led to believe.  Due to this they’ll advise they have to review the timeline on the delivery of their commitments (political speak for ‘we won’t be delivering on all of our promises’).  We need to push, remind, champion the promises made for CQ.  So let’s get them in writing and have them published.  We don’t just want to hear of the bright future politicians see for CQ, let’s read of the future they will create for CQ and by when.