Six weeks after the first round of Regional Community Forums for 2022, Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday residents will again meet with a senior Minister and MPs in Proserpine tomorrow to expand on their priorities and accelerate action for the region.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the next steps for the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum were crucial for members to lead projects into the second half of 2022.
“May began a new era with new members sharing their priorities for a region-specific action plan,” the Premier said.
“Forum members, Ministers and MPs have had six weeks to develop their ideas and identify opportunities for the continued growth, wellbeing and prosperity of this region.
“Since then we’ve released the biggest health and hospital building plan in Queensland history.
“And almost two-thirds of capital investment in the budget is allocated to the regions.
“So there’s a solid foundation for Ministers, MPs and community representatives to use tomorrow’s forum to plan for more good jobs, better services and a great regional lifestyle.”
Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan will join Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum members in Proserpine.
Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health Infrastructure and Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert will chair the forum.
Tomorrow’s forum will begin with a site visit to TAFE Queensland’s Cannonvale Campus, where forum members will learn more about the development of new training to help grow the local workforce.
The agenda will also include presentations on data collection from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office, and on Mackay Regional Jobs Committee activities from the Greater Whitsunday Alliance.
Ms Gilbert said forum members, Ministers, and government representatives in May discussed the opportunities and priorities for building the livability and prosperity of the region.
“From health to education, to road infrastructure, electricity supply, water quality and climate action – our first forum covered a broad range of topics and interests of forum members,” Ms Gilbert said.
“They decided on three priority areas – workforce attraction and retention, building sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and providing accommodation support for youth training and sport.
“The second forum of 2022 will allow forum members to expand on these priorities, develop a Local Action Plan for the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region and progress that with Government.”
The Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum is one of seven to be held in regional centres across Queensland tomorrow, with other forums set for Far North Queensland, Central Queensland, Darling Downs-South West, North-North West Queensland, Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast and Western Queensland.
The Regional Community Forums are part of the Queensland Government’s strategy, supported by the Office for Rural and Regional Queensland.
