Blueprint leaves Boulia off the map
CONFUSION surrounds last month’s release of the Blueprint for the Bush.
Hailed as a 10-year-plan to create a sustainable and prosperous rural Queensland, one of the major tasks is "to improve communication between Government and the bush" but over the past week shire councillors have been left wondering when, if at all, the money will start rolling in.
The Blueprint was heralded as a chance to provide an "outline of the billions of dollars likely to be spent on infrastructure projects in rural and regional Queensland over the next five years" leaving Boulia Chief Executive Officer, Michelle McFadyen, to figure out how the recently launched Outback Way development slipped off the Blueprint radar.
The multi-million dollar road from Winton to Alice Springs failed to gain a mention in the Indicative Roads Implementation Program although the $2.8 million for the Barcoo River bridge upgrade at Blackall, $2 million allocated for sealing sections of Aramac–Torrens Creek Road and $40 million to rehabilitate 71 kilometres of the Dawson Highway were listed.
"We have all been talking about the Outback Highway but it didn’t get a mention in the document," Mrs McFadyen said.
"I phoned last week to find out what was going on and they said they are going to put it in.
"Currently the road is only open to 4x4s or vehicles with high clearance so the new road is going to be great for the town, considering the number of extra travellers and commercial operators who will then be able to pass through."
Before announcing the Blueprint an extensive consultation process was undertaken including two ministerial regional community forums and 22 AgForce run meetings which formed the basis of the discussion paper.
A total of 2,500 submissions were received from interested stakeholders before the launch of the final document.
At a meeting in Longreach of the RAPAD board two weeks ago, Office of Rural and Regional Communities Blueprint for the Bush director Karel Duivenvoorden acknowledged there were projects which have failed to make the final publication.
"We will begin our regional tour next month to hear what’s missing from the document," Mr Duivenvoorden said.
"It’s time for some healthy cynicism.
"This is a 10-year plan and it’s just the beginning. We need to look at this document like an actual blueprint for regional centres."
When asked to answer questions on whether the Blueprint was in fact a draft document rather than a finalised action plan Mr Duivenvoorden refered The Longreach Leader to a spokesperson for the Department of Communities, Paul Hall.
Mr Hall stated that the Blueprint for the Bush was the final document, but it would be an "ever-evolving process over the 10-year tenure".
When asked whether there would be additional funding allocations to accommodate omitted or missing projects Mr Hall was unable to comment.
Hailed as a 10-year-plan to create a sustainable and prosperous rural Queensland, one of the major tasks is "to improve communication between Government and the bush" but over the past week shire councillors have been left wondering when, if at all, the money will start rolling in.
The Blueprint was heralded as a chance to provide an "outline of the billions of dollars likely to be spent on infrastructure projects in rural and regional Queensland over the next five years" leaving Boulia Chief Executive Officer, Michelle McFadyen, to figure out how the recently launched Outback Way development slipped off the Blueprint radar.
The multi-million dollar road from Winton to Alice Springs failed to gain a mention in the Indicative Roads Implementation Program although the $2.8 million for the Barcoo River bridge upgrade at Blackall, $2 million allocated for sealing sections of Aramac–Torrens Creek Road and $40 million to rehabilitate 71 kilometres of the Dawson Highway were listed.
"We have all been talking about the Outback Highway but it didn’t get a mention in the document," Mrs McFadyen said.
"I phoned last week to find out what was going on and they said they are going to put it in.
"Currently the road is only open to 4x4s or vehicles with high clearance so the new road is going to be great for the town, considering the number of extra travellers and commercial operators who will then be able to pass through."
Before announcing the Blueprint an extensive consultation process was undertaken including two ministerial regional community forums and 22 AgForce run meetings which formed the basis of the discussion paper.
A total of 2,500 submissions were received from interested stakeholders before the launch of the final document.
At a meeting in Longreach of the RAPAD board two weeks ago, Office of Rural and Regional Communities Blueprint for the Bush director Karel Duivenvoorden acknowledged there were projects which have failed to make the final publication.
"We will begin our regional tour next month to hear what’s missing from the document," Mr Duivenvoorden said.
"It’s time for some healthy cynicism.
"This is a 10-year plan and it’s just the beginning. We need to look at this document like an actual blueprint for regional centres."
When asked to answer questions on whether the Blueprint was in fact a draft document rather than a finalised action plan Mr Duivenvoorden refered The Longreach Leader to a spokesperson for the Department of Communities, Paul Hall.
Mr Hall stated that the Blueprint for the Bush was the final document, but it would be an "ever-evolving process over the 10-year tenure".
When asked whether there would be additional funding allocations to accommodate omitted or missing projects Mr Hall was unable to comment.
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