Iron Boomerang: Why aren't we hearing more about it?

At school I was taught a developed nation exported value added products, a developing nation its raw resources.  I wonder if they still teach that.  Before Gina Rinehart there was Lang Hancock (her Dad) and he along with former Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen mooted a west east railway line transporting the iron ore to where the coal is then make steel for export.  Now some 30 odd years later the idea is getting some traction, even a forecast completion date of 2018.  Not one steel smelter plant, but two;   Newman, Western Australian and Abbott Point, Queensland, connected by a 3300km rail line. Covered coal carriages travelling west returning east with iron ore, steel being produced at each end.

East West Line Parks is behind this touted nation building project appropriately named Project Iron Boomerang. Their web site suggests the steel produced will be globally cost competitive, plus ships required to transport it can be up to a third smaller than the latest super coal carriers.  I assume making Friends of the Barrier Reef somewhat happier.  Interesting in all the talk of new coal mines, ports and rail corridors this project seems off the media radar.  Proponents of Project Iron Boomerang suggest it could lessen the number of rail lines proposed to transport coal across Central Queensland, by having spur lines from the Galilee Basin and Moranbah mines.  While not the Capricorn Tropic Bullet Train running from Gladstone through Rockhampton, Alpha out to Uluru mentioned in previous AspireCQ columns, Project Iron Boomerang appears to provide vital infrastructure for the resources boom period and post boom as well.  Hopefully the tourism potential of the infrastructure will be considered and the usability of the tracks for high speed trains.  

Project Iron Boomerang will no doubt be seeking Government concessions.  At least this project adds value to our natural resources and will leave more than just holes.  Let’s hear from all levels of government their reaction to it.  Especially Queensland Government as one third owners of QR National, who I understand have alternative plans. Be a shame to let another 30 odd years pass.

Statistic's - Believe it or Not - They Need to be Challenged

Lies, damn lies, then there’s statistics.  It’s amazing what can be done with figures.  Practically halve the unemployment rate for one.  Roy Morgan Research figures claim Australia’s unemployment rate is 8.2% not the Governments 4.9%.  One reason for the discrepancy is apparently Government figures don’t include people not actively looking for a job, but who don’t have a job!  Add to this figure those with a job, usually part-time or casual, but want extra hours – the underemployed; the percentage is 17.2% of the workforce.  So approximately 1 in 6 people eligible to work are either under or unemployed.  2.1 million Australians, according to Roy Morgan Research. With a mining boom creating thousands of jobs why are possibly over 2 million Australians under or unemployed?  Is it the education system, the amount of government benefits, pay rates, delivery of training schemes, workforce moveability, an aging workforce or apprenticeship schemes?  While the government creatively uses statistics to derive an unemployment rate under 5% we don’t challenge them as to why. 

It’s not just unemployment we allow the Government to go unchallenged about.  Our expectation for the government to provide fair, honest and free elections is another issue that needs to be challenged.  This paper reported on alleged incorrect instructions being issued to voters in the local government elections.  Mayoral aspirant Tim Griffin wrote to the Electoral Commission on the instructions he received from ECQ staff and what others advised him. “I have noted the examples you listed in your correspondence, but am not in a position to make any authoritative response without concrete evidence”, was part of the reply.  Apparently quoting what happened is not concrete enough.

Cynicism of government grows – “they’re as bad as each other”.  Maybe it would be different if we started to expect more from them.  There are major issues we should be interested in like unemployment, the environment, the amount of debt, CSG mining practices, election practices and farmers land rights for example.  All of us need to take a more active interest.  Politicians need to be reminded that Government is more than a game of power; it’s listening and doing the right things for us, now and for the future.  If we aspire a better future, than we have to play an active role.

The 4 D's - Dream, Debate, Decide, Develop

“Tell her she’s dreaming”, that would be the response from Darryl Kerrigan (of ‘The Castle’ fame) to Kirsten Livermore’s call for an eastern highway bypass of Rockhampton and relocating the airport to Hedlow.  That’s one of the responses I got to a previous column about establishing an international airport at Raglan and an eastern highway bypass of the city.  Take it as a compliment Kirsten; daring to dream and putting it out there for all to read.  From Kirsten’s mention of relocating the airport came the call to upgrade the Emu Park airstrip.  Brilliant idea, develop the Capricorn Coast as a fly in fly out (FIFO) base.  It is recognised mine workers prefer coastal locations with good (not too lengthy) transport links to their work site.  An airstrip able to accommodate charter flights to Emerald, Wondoan, Alpha, Dysart, maybe Katherine (am I dreaming Darryl) imagine what a stimulus this would provide.  The Whitsunday Council is keen to upgrade the Proserpine Airport primarily to attract more FIFO families. Be good to see our region this proactive.   It’s the same with a highway bypass of Rockhampton.  It appears if it goes ahead it will be west of the city.  An eastern bypass would be more beneficial for the region.  Our main tourist assets are coast based moving the highway closer will potentially increase stop-over’s and their duration.  Imagine what the result could be.

Including the airport as part of the bypass, strategically located between Rockhampton and Capricornia Coast, facilitating easier access for the defence forces to Shoalwater Bay is visionary, worthy of future investigation and getting on the Council’s agenda.

The Department of Regional Australia has a billion dollar plus budget to invest in regional projects. With our federal member talking major infrastructure, a can do State Member of Keppel and a newish council let us start planning with fresh open minds.  Maybe I’m dreaming; I believe Central Queensland has the natural beauty to be an international tourist destination; it’s just lacking the infrastructure.  An international airport with a bullet train service to Uluru for example.  Let’s hear, talk and act on aspirations for CQ. The future is not to see, it’s to make. Let’s get started.