Richard Chappell, Chief Operating Officer, joined 15 other invited key business leaders last month to attend the NQ Development Business Roundtable to discuss the challenges and identify development opportunities in the region.

The roundtable hosted by the Queensland Government, and one in a series across Northern Queensland, was also attended by three local Mayors, Cr Margaret Strelow – Rockhampton Regional Council, Cr Bill Ludwig – Livingstone Shire Council, Cr Ron Carige – Banana Shire Council, and chaired by Queensland Government Minister, Mark Bailey MP Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply. Mark Bailey MP was representing Queensland Government Minister, Coralee O’Rourke MP Minister for Disability Services and Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland.

Rockhampton was included in the list of cities where business roundtables were hosted as recognition of the links between the Central and North Queensland economies, as they align with the scope of the Federal Government’s White Paper on Developing Northern Australia.

Technology and Innovation high on the Agenda

Richard Chappell said constructive comments and input from the roundtable highlighted various projects and a ranking was put on each project with water management, innovation and technology to support existing sectors in our regions such as agribusiness, education, health, tourism and defence being key issues.

Richard Chappell was impressed to see that technology and Innovation are high on the agenda – now he is keen to see this translate from words on a paper to actual resulting projects, improvement and opportunities.

Nothing happens until action is taken. Government should be setting positive conditions for these ideas to be put effectively in play, but for it to be effective, it must be driven by industry.