Council Calls for a Real Plan for the Isaac Region

Isaac Regional Council has written to the Queensland Government with questions about funding for regional recovery and has also written to all candidates for its electorates to seek their commitment.

This followed last week’s release by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Treasurer Cameron Dick of the Mackay-Whitsunday Regional Economic Recovery Plan and the Mackay-Whitsunday Regional Recovery Action Plan.

In a letter to the Premier and the Treasurer, then Acting Mayor Kelly Vea Vea queried the ability of these projects to help stimulate the economy in Isaac as the plan intends.

Mayor Anne Baker this week reinforced these concerns and stated that any party wanting to lead Queensland and benefit from the Isaac contribution to the State’s GDP will need to clearly demonstrate that it has a real plan for the Isaac region and that the plan will actually work to make the economy stronger in recovery and more sustainable for the longer term.

“This means that Government must have a real plan to invest in services and infrastructure that underpin and support our region’s economic engine – the source of Queensland future wealth and prosperity.

“It’s true that while the rest of Queensland locked down earlier in the year during COVID-19 restrictions, our region’s 26 active coal mines continued to operate to generate revenue and employment for the rest of the state and country.

“However, that doesn’t mean businesses in our region were not impacted. It’s been extremely important to their recovery that Council had a real plan that genuinely responds to those devastating impacts.

“For example, way back in March we established the Community Chest Fund which has already distributed $490,000 to 70 small or medium businesses across the Isaac Region needing financial assistance.”

Mayor Baker acknowledged recent campaign commitments by the LNP and issued another call to action and commitment by all candidates.

“We have issued our Priority Policy Issues and Priority Projects to all candidates and we invite them to demonstrate their real commitment to our region.”

Published: 7th October 2020