Enough of Band-Aid Solutions

The direct flight from Mumbai was about to touch down on the new tarmac at the Alpha International Airport.  Disembarking passengers were directed to a large shed where custom and quarantine officers who themselves had only just flew in a few hours beforehand processed their arrival documentation.  The ignition switches on the coaches waiting outside the shed were turned on to start their air-conditioning units in readiness for the trip direct to the accommodation camps.  The passengers 28 day working shift at the nearby mine sites were about to begin. 

There’s something really wrong here.  Over 1.2 million Australians are unemployed.  2.2 million are underemployed (Roy Morgan Research figures).  Yet the federal and state government seems agreeable to flying in overseas workers to fill jobs, and not just mine jobs.

Assuming our federal and state politicians do not address the real underlying problems and allow this band aid fix of fly in fly out (FIFO) international workforce we need our CQ Champions to be vocal, prepared and persistent in making the best of the situation.  If an international airport is to be built in CQ, let’s build it where it can be most beneficial for Central Queenslanders, not the mine owners.  I think Raglan over Alpha would be a wiser long term location.  With a connecting bullet train track from Gladstone through Rockhampton, Emerald and out to Alpha (with later stages to Uluru) to help transport workers (and later tourists) to work sites would again be a wiser long term decision, if Central Queensland’s future is really being considered not just the mine owners.  “Where’s the money going to come from, after all the state is broke”, will be the howls.  Well some mining companies have indicated that they are going to build airports, rail and port facilities to get our coal to overseas markets.  Instead of letting the mine owners dictate how and where they are going to do this we need to enforce our sovereign rights.  And this is where Central Queenslanders have to stand up to demand this. As it appears we’re too far away from Brisbane and Canberra, with them just glossing over details before making decisions.  And if the decision doesn’t work out they’ll just send more band aids until the resource boom ends.  Need proof, look at what’s happening to Central Queensland harbours, rivers, farmland and infrastructure buckling under the growing demands of a non ratepayer based workforce.

$500 million the state government will give to the Gold Coast to host the Commonwealth Games, a South Bank 2 for Brisbane is a state election promise, not a local Brisbane council one.

Enough; we know where the bulk of this money is coming from; it’s time that CQ yelled ‘enough’.  The resource boom does bring problems, but it also brings opportunities.  Central Queensland must make the most of these opportunities, not just the south east corner.  A collaborative approach with the mine companies and state/federal government doesn’t mean we have to bow to them.  Our kids and grandkids need to be considered with the decisions being made, not what is the quickest and easiest solution. 

CQ Champions please stand up because you are needed, and the CQ media please help them to be persistent in their calls, band aids just aren’t enough. Let’s not have history indicate this was the opportunity CQ wasted.

Rockhampton to host Commonwealth Games!

Managed to get into a little hot water about my reference in a previous column about the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.  Just for the record I think it’s great that Queensland is holding the Games in 2018.  For an Australian athlete to compete in a world class event on an Australian stage is something for all of us to savour.

However can you imagine what the Gold Coast will be like over the next six years as they put in a light train network to help transport visitors to the different venues?  It’s a rat race now. (I wonder if a mono rail network above the roads was considered?)

Take a mental step further and imagine if Rockhampton won the bid instead.  I can hear some of you now saying, “It would never happen, who would even dare suggest funding a Rockhampton bid”.  Quite likely no one, unfortunately.  However if you can get past these mental hurdles, imagine what infrastructure would be built (though we won’t need a new pool complex or hockey field).  Netball would finally get a decent venue.  CQ NRL bid would get a stadium.  Little athletics would have a fantastic training facility.  Crocodiles would mysteriously be relocated from above the barrage for the rowing course.  What a statement about decentralisation the State Government would be making by supporting such a bid.  What a magnet there would be to attract people to live, work and play in our region.  Giving people migrating to Queensland a real alternative to the south east corner.  Oh, but it wouldn’t be sustainable.  Politically irresponsible would be the calls.  Would it be though, if we were serious about decentralisation and developed a tri-city concept with Gladstone and the Capricorn Coast with a fast (bullet) train running between the two major centres and maybe a mono rail service connecting the coast and Rockhampton, would the investment in the infrastructure needed to hold the Games be unsustainable?  Share some of the events with Gladstone.  Relocate the Queensland Institute of Sport to Rockhampton.  Close some roads to cyclists and walkers only.  With the international attention the Games would bring imagine the image the Rockhampton region could project.  Dynamic, vibrant, innovative, clean, green.  An image that would endure after the resource boom ends.  A Commonwealth Games in the Rockhampton region could be the stimulus for the Rockhampton/Gladstone regions population to exceed 350,000.  Taking pressure of the south east corner.  Would a population base of this size and the benefits of a more decentralised state make a successful Game bid sustainable?  But the Gold Coast Games will be great for the States tourism.  We’ve got beaches (as good if not better) and islands.  Imagine how picturesque the marathon would be run from Bangalee to Yeppoon with the Keppel’s in the background.  But the State can’t afford it!  This would be an investment in a decentralised State, thus a stronger State.  Making cities with populations over one million bigger is not better.  Growth needs to be encouraged across the State.  Something like a Commonwealth Games would be the stimulus for this type of healthier growth to occur.  And if the rules say that cities under 500000 people can’t bid for the Games, international expos etc, break them.  If not sustainable development, lets at least work towards smarter development.  If that means changing the rules or risk being unpopular in the more populated areas then do it.  Our future is more important.  Could we at least try to get an Australian qualifying game in the hockey played in Rockhampton during the 2018 Commonwealth Games?  I’m sure the Rockhampton boys hopefully in the team would love the opportunity to play in front of their friends and family as well as even a bigger crowd who might find it hard getting to the venue at the Gold Coast.  After all I think CQ will be making a fair contribution to the cost of holding the Games.

The House CQ Political Aspirants Built

Have you ever thought about how much money is wasted in political campaigns. Theories of what is enough advertising to reach people go out the window as the major players spend more than their opponent believing more is better. And the funny thing they'll probably be advertising their credentials in cutting waste and reducing debt.

The keys were exchanged as the final cheque was presented to the builder.  No cracking open the champagne or house warming party.  Just a firm shake of the hand and a quiet thank you expressed to all the people who made it happen, particularly the candidates of the recent state and local elections.  Their combined contribution paid for nearly half of the cost of the five bedroom home.  The future of four Gladstone kids from challenged backgrounds looked somewhat brighter.

Last week I mentioned that Anglicare CQ was in urgent need to find suitable housing for four children and their carers in Gladstone.  One proposal to raise the $800k needed for a purpose built home was for businesses to donate a percentage of their weekly turnover to the appeal, with the public encouraged to support these businesses.

To supplement this action candidates in the forthcoming state and local elections could donate half their advertising fund to this appeal.  By my rough estimate I believe this could raise around $350k from just the candidates running in the state and local elections within the Rockhampton and Gladstone regions alone. (Yes I’m estimating around $700,000 is going to be spent on election ads in the Rockhampton/Gladstone area over the next eleven weeks – get ready for the onslaught).  With election issues bound to include the debt levels and money being wasted, here’s a way for candidates to demonstrate their effectiveness by using only half the money they would have otherwise used. They would still keep their relative advantage over each other, eg the candidate spending $100,000 compared to the one spending $50,000 would still have a 2 to 1 advantage if their budgets were halved to $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.  The self funded candidate spending $8k or less would arguably find it more difficult with half that amount, but really against party and business supported candidates they are at a huge disadvantage anyway in getting their message out.  I’m sure that we all wouldn’t mind seeing, hearing, reading less election advertising.  This way half the money is being spent on a positive community project other than all on normally negative and or boring election advertisements.  What a way for the candidates to demonstrate they have the best interests of the community at heart, not self. Be a nice change to read about candidates bragging about how much they would be donating to the fund instead of how much dollars they have to spend on their campaign.

To indicate your support of AnglicareCQ 4 Kids appeal please visit the web site www.aspirecq.com. This is a real opportunity for you to help create a better future for 4 CQ kids. Ask the businesses (and political candidate) you deal with, do you support AnglicareCQ 4 Kids.

4 Kids

If you talk the talk, will you walk the walk?

This week’s aspiration is a simple one.  It’s that by May this year four Gladstone children and their carers can continue to live together in one home.  No fast train, schweebs, eastern by-pass, or international airport at Raglan.  Just a simple aspiration that many of us take for granted – a stable caring home.  Making this aspiration difficult to achieve though is wrapped up in the very thing that is to make our state and nation prosperous again – the resources boom.

The lease on the home these four children currently live in at Gladstone expires May this year.  The landlord will not be renewing the lease on the modified five bedroom home.  The challenge for the organisation responsible for the care of these children, AnglicareCQ, is to find another home in Gladstone that is big enough and affordable.  Action is required and quickly.  If you’re thinking it’s a sad situation, but ‘what can you do’, please consider this action.  If you are a business donate a percentage (of your choosing) of your weekly turnover to AnglicareCQ to either build or purchase a suitable home.  If you are a consumer (that’s all of us) choose to deal with those businesses that make this pledge.  Thus a win win scenario can develop.  Participating businesses benefit from the increased trade.  The consumer wins knowing their action of choosing where to shop can keep four children together. And the 4 kids win. If you talk the talk (I’d like to help) this is how you can walk the walk.  Media organisation Southern Cross Austereo has offered to promote the names of the first 40 businesses willing to donate a percentage of their turnover to this appeal free of charge.  An AspireCQ.com website will be built to list the businesses and keep progress of totals coming in.  If you’re thinking I wish you well and promptly forget about it as you turn this page, consider this aspiration could possibly cost $800k. $100000 is only going to provide a short term solution i.e. leasing another home, if one can be found for around $2000 a week.  The ideal solution is that AnglicareCQ build a purpose built home. Not moving these 4 kids every twelve or more likely six months.  Stability is what is needed, not short term fixes.  It is thus a huge aspiration. The more people involved though the more achievable it can be.  Please be part of this community project. Contact me by e-mail, warren@apap.com.au and indicate how you can assist.  Your action will affect four kid’s future.   To keep you updated on how this aspiration progresses please follow my blog; www.aspirecq.blogspot.com  and this column.

I disclose that I am an AnglicareCQ board member, so I admit to self interest in the accomplishment of this aspiration as do the rest of the board members, the team at AnglicareCQ and hopefully our CQ community.

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.