Amalgamation: Lets have a proper debate

Amalgamation, that’s the flip side of the de-amalgamation debate, the side we hardly hear about.  Actually debate is the wrong word as it requires at least 2 opposing arguments.  Where’s the pro amalgamation team? After all there were good reasons to amalgamate in the first place, weren’t there.

I recall attending an amalgamation meeting in Rockhampton with the then Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser where he commented on the hospitable reception.  Maybe the arguments for amalgamation of greater efficiencies and better management seem redundant presently.  However, the feeling from that meeting was that amalgamation was necessary for the region’s economic growth.  A prevailing perception that the region was suffering due to Rockhampton City’s smaller population and growth rate compared to other regional cities.  The previously amalgamated Mackay was one example.  Growth in Yeppoon, north of Parkhurst and Gracemere were not included in Rockhampton City economic indicators despite the proximity.  Combine these interlinked communities population and a more attractive package is presented to investors.  One can argue that after 4 years of amalgamation evidence of greater investment in our region exists. 

Mistakes with the amalgamation process were arguably made.  However, wouldn’t it more productive to put our energies into rectifying the mistakes and improving the process then to dismantle it?  Would the 4 point size footnote under Rockhampton regions future economic indicators explaining the 28000 decrease in population be noticed by investors? Would a 28000 populated shire make their short list?  Investors deciding the location of the next Myers or foreshore development for example. 

Supporters for de-amalgamation have their reasons and it’s healthy to argue for them.  Without balance though are the residents in the former Livingstone Shire making an informed decision or more an emotive one?  With the current national and international attention Central Queensland is receiving wouldn’t it be better to remain united than divided.  Splitting but remaining close friends sounds like an amicable separation, but will two bureaucracies happily co-exist or file for divorce.  Let’s have a proper balanced debate.  Champions of amalgamation please step forward and present your arguments for keeping the status quo. (Be interesting to know how many councillors will be amongst you).

Doing More with the Less Known

Interesting that old gold mining equipment can be a historically significant attraction.  At some sites sign posts are constructed describing what the equipment did.  The area around it maintained, with arrows pointing where further pieces of historically significant litter can be located.  Litter, at the time it was left there, that’s what it was.  Equipment discarded as the viable gold disappeared along with the miners and sometimes the communities the gold supported.  Will the CSG wells dotting our rural landscape be future historical attractions?  Or has mining lost the perceived charm of yesteryear.  A charm that could see fortunes made, lost, robbed or killed for.

Mount Britton, 65km west of Sarina and Ravenswood, an hour drive east of Charters Towers are hardly up there with Dream or Sea World as tourist attractions. Each however adds to the visitor’s perceived charm of the gold mining in the late 1800’s.  Mount Britton; population 0, buildings 3 (shed, lookout shelter and toilet); hardly the infrastructure is the attraction, but the stories and pictures of the school, picture studio, doctors surgery and the pubs scattered across the site that once was home to 1500 inhabitants is a shiny lure for the more adventure seeking tourist. At Ravenswood the infrastructure is the initial attraction.  The township is listed by the National Trust.  Two beautiful hotels remain out of the 48 that once quenched 5000 throats.  Chimney stacks, mullock heaps, the school swimming pool are brilliant camera fodder, however it is the stories on the signposts beside them that engages the visitor, keeping some a few days in the free campground at the showgrounds, or bedding with the ghosts at the hotels.  Could more be done with the old gold fields around Rockhampton; Canoona, Bouldercombe, Morinish, Rosewood, Ridgelands, Mt. Chalmers and of course Mount Morgan to attract the more adventure seeking tourist.  Drive along the western highways and you’ll see them towing a camper trailer or 4WD caravan.  The Cape, Uluru, Winton’s dinosaurs footprints, Undara Lava Tubes are typical destinations.  For these tourists it’s the journey that’s just as important.  To see, experience different things, and engage with the stories and characters.  Maybe as we wait for Great Keppel Island to once again become a major tourist attraction, we should do more with less, our less known sites of interest.

Government Versus Household Spending

Interesting how Government react the opposite to the way a household does.  When times are tough household’s tighten the belt make do with the old TV, repair the old fridge not replace it, forget about the extensions, etc.  Government though borrows more money and spends it, big time.  When things improve the household splurges a little, buys a flat screen TV, gets quotes on the new kitchen etc. However with our economy in good shape, one of the best in the world, our new state and local governments are tightening the belt, cutting jobs, asking remaining staff to duplex their photocopying.  Some economists argue this response reversal is necessary. Continued spending by either the public or private sector is necessary to maintain employment.  However in the 2 tier (speed) economy which we are experiencing Government seems to be relying on the mining/resource boom to soak up all the new unemployed and more.  Will a former public servant be keen to swap their desk in Brisbane for a dump truck in Alpha?  Even if they were would they get the job?  If they do, how will FIFO affect family and social life?

It is a responsible action for Government to reduce wasteful expenditure and cut debt, but needs to be careful how it’s done.

Allowing mining/resource companies 100% FIFO workforce, employing and sourcing supplies from overseas is making it tough for that tier of economy not directly involved in mining/resources; the bigger of the 2 tiers.  If this tier of the private sector reduces spending in union with Government (public sector) cut backs, where’s the spending necessary to maintain jobs in retail, services, tourism and construction industries?  Maybe the Newman Government did actually think of this in announcing the ‘cost neutral’ Brisbane North CBD renewal project.  Pity it’s the south east corner that Newman big idea is to be realised.  It should though highlight to the Rockhampton Regional Council to work on its own big ‘cost neutral’ idea for the region.  As just hoping the mining/resource companies are going to stimulate the non mining tier in the local economy or the State/Federal Government will play white knight won’t be enough. The honeymoon is over; let’s see more from the Council than just driving personal agendas.

Trying to find an Australian at the Coal Face

“Mate, this will be the last time, going back to Caboolture tomorrow”.  “So the job with the mines didn’t work out”.  “No, he never returned a phone call, looks like better opportunities back home after all”.  This was part of a conversation I had at tennis last week.

Other conversations during the week included the voluntary (!) redundancies at QR National, school based apprenticeships and TAFE courses that can’t be delivered as trainers aren’t available.  Hard to believe Central Queensland is in a boom and thousands of jobs need to be filled.  Extra rail corridors will be criss-crossing CQ and I image more trains will be needed to transport the greater quantities of coal, but QR National need less workers in CQ!  TAFE Rockhampton offers a Certificate II in Electrotechnology, a bit of a leg up to an electrical apprenticeship, but can’t deliver it as they can’t get trainers.  A school based apprenticeship can involve 4 weeks during the year where students attend TAFE. I said, “this would be during school holidays”.  “Not necessarily” was the answer.  That’s a bit of catching up a student has to do.  While also missing up to 2 days a week for an apprenticeship that has no guarantee of being completed after the student finishes grade 12.  Then do you have a better chance of getting a job in the Galilee Basin from Sunshine Coast than Rockhampton because it’s been in FIFO slumber land?  It appears Government responses to the job shortages is foreign workers.  Maybe if they scratch the surface a bit they may find a few things that aren’t enhancing the chances of Australians filling Australian jobs.  The government grant the mining companies the right to dig up our nations resources and send it overseas without having to make significant contributions to the infrastructure, with now even less green tape and apparently little real requirement to train and employ Australians.  Why aren’t the pollies asking and even better looking and listening for the reasons why 1 in 6 eligible Australians are either under or unemployed (Roy Morgan Research)?  Get out of the office and visit the coal face. Getting more Australians gainfully employed is going to go along way to decreasing the debt, than just collecting royalty cheques.