Townsville Update
With major infrastructure such as the water pipeline and North Queensland Stadium already underway and others following close behind, Townsville is fast becoming the next great success story.
It’s been long overdue but all of our rain dances finally paid off with some healthy rainfalls giving our dam a much needed top up. Townsville’s once-in-a-generation drought may be over, but that doesn’t mean our commitment to the city’s water security ends. The $215 million water pipeline linking the Ross River Dam with the Burdekin is still on track to be delivered by the end of next year.
This project is a significant opportunity for the local construction industry and will create much-needed jobs and boost our economy during its construction. We’ve had strong interest from both local and national businesses on the project’s largest tender which has now closed. These applications will be assessed as quickly as possible for a project this large and complex; and the successful applicant will be announced in due course.
Economic activation and jobs for locals are also at the centre of our work to strengthen our relationship with Singapore. In February, we hosted delegates from one of Asia’s largest consultancy powerhouses, Surbana Jurong, and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) outlining a number of initiatives that will transform the city into a world-class digital hub, creating the jobs of the future.
One key initiative included in the MOC is a business case study on a fibre optic cable between Townsville and Singapore, which will offer businesses larger data storage and higher download speeds. As part of our agreement with Surbana Jurong we’ll also be working together to secure direct flights between Townsville and Singapore.
The Singapore Government has made a significant investment in Townsville through the new defence training facility which is being built on the outskirts of the city, and we look forward to many more opportunities in the future.
April is an incredibly exciting time to be in Townsville as we get set for our role as an event city for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games which comes with some huge economic benefits for the city. A total of 1.5 million tickets have been sold for events across Queensland, meaning a $2 billion economic boost for the state. As a city we’ve already received a series of legacy benefits from our role in the Games including a new entry sign for the CBD and fitness equipment for Strand Park.
Something else that will leave a lasting legacy on our city from the Commonwealth Games is Festival 2018. With 163 events featuring 665 performers over 12 days in three iconic Townsville locations it’s an event on a scale that our city has never seen before. Throughout the Games, our city will come alive with live music, dance, visual arts, theatre, cabaret, circus and more. Festival 2018 will be etched into the shared memory of our community for a long time to come.
