Northern Economic Triangle Blueprint

The Northern Economic Triangle (NET) Blueprint aims to maximise the economic potential of Mount Isa and Townsville and to develop a new industrial precinct at Bowen, to take full advantage of strong demand for minerals and metals from the rapidly expanding economies of China and India.

On the site tour at Bowen and Abbot Point - (left to right) Nigel Brown, Department of Infrastructure; Cr Mike Brunker, Mayor of Bowen; Jennifer Dobinson, Department of Infrastructure; Jan Jarratt, Whitsunday MP; Frank Mason, State Development Centre in Mackay; Janet Marshall, HLA-Enviroservices Brisbane; Gerry Callahan, HLA-Enviroservices Mackay; Stephen Victory, WorleyParsons; Gary Campbell, Port Corporation; and Alastair Reed, WorleyParsons. (Photo courtesy of the Bowen Independent).

Nigel Brown, Acting Assistant Coordinator-General Regional Infrastructure at the Department of Infrastructure, said it was strategically important for Queensland to diversify industrial development to areas other than Gladstone which is already a thriving industrial hub.

"The major constraints to development at Bowen are a lack of highly reliable water supplies, suitably serviced industrial land and infrastructure corridors, competitive energy and a suitably sized population from which to draw skilled workers and service industries," he said.

Planning and construction are already under way to ensure transport infrastructure and services support the strong future predicted in the NET Blueprint. Providing efficient coal rail networks and ports through Queensland Transport's Rail Ports and Freight Division and Queenland Rail is an essential part of that planning.

The NET Blueprint includes SunWater's Water for Bowen project which will address water availability and the Bowen Industrial Land and Infrastructure Study - a new study by WorleyParsons to identify land suitable for an industrial precinct.

The steering committee for the Bowen Industrial Land and Infrastructure Study and the WorleyParsons' representatives visited the study area in January to inspect first-hand the land proposed for an industrial precinct at Bowen.

Chair of the committee and Mayor of Bowen Shire Council Cr Mike Brunker led a tour of the site for members of the committee including the Department of Infrastructure, SunWater, Ports Corporation of Queensland and the Mackay State Development Centre, as well as WorleyParsons' representatives and the Member for Whitsunday, Jan Jarett MP.

Mr Brunker said that harnessing the region's untapped potential "would be a huge benefit not only for Bowen but for the region.

"We look forward to the positive results that will come out of this as more jobs are created for the people of Bowen and North Queensland.

Due for completion in June this year, the Study will result in an Industrial Land and Infrastructure Strategy identifying long term economic development opportunities and land suitable for heavy, medium and light industry and associated infrastructure servicing requirements.

The announcement of the NET Blueprint by Premier Peter Beattie on 30 December 2006 has been followed by community consultation in Townsville, Mount Isa and Bowen during February and March.

"We want to create an industrial hub in North Queensland to rival anywhere else in the world." - Peter Beattie MP Premier and Minister for Trade

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