Townsville Enterprise and a delegation of North Queensland mayors are headed to Canberra and Brisbane this month with new project priorities ahead of the State and Federal Budgets.

Townsville Enterprise chief executive officer Claudia Brumme-Smith said the message to Unlock the North would remain loud and clear, with new regional priorities following the CopperString announcement from the State.

“CopperString was the result of a decade of advocacy, but we don’t stop now. We remain focused on the other enabling projects to secure the future of Townsville North Queensland region,” Mrs Brumme-Smith said.

“Solving the region’s housing crisis, securing water, investment into innovation and research, targeted defence investment and investment into aquaculture will be at the top of our agenda from an industry perspective.”

North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NQROC) chair and Burdekin Shire Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said the region was primed to continue to deliver outcomes for the State and the nation.

“It is abundantly clear that North Queensland is in the prime position to deliver for the region, we’ve just seen that last week with the announcement of the CopperString project,” Cr. McLaughlin said.

“When you live in the regions you understand what it means to work together, and the NQROC group of councils with Townsville Enterprise is committed and focused on our advocacy efforts to achieve results.”

Following the success of the Burdekin RegenAqua project, the region is seeking funding from State or the Federal Government to replicate this world-leading technology in Hinchinbrook.

Charters Towers Mayor Frank Beveridge said the Charters Towers Enterprise Precinct and targeted Defence investment was at the top of his agenda.

“The State and Federal Delegation is the prime example of strength in numbers. One united advocacy voice achieves results and I look forward meeting with the ministers to secure the future of our region,” Cr Beveridge said.