Mayor Jenny Hill raises water security at Senate Committee hearing
Date published: 7 November 2018
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill today addressed a Senate Committee inquiry into regional inequality in Australia.
Cr Hill raised water security as crucial to grow the local economy and reduce the unemployment rate.
“Businesses need certainty that the city has long-term water security for them to invest in job creating projects,” Cr Hill said.
“I’m very pleased we now have bipartisan support for full federal funding of Stage 2 of the city’s new water pipeline – which will extend the infrastructure down to the Clare Weir.
“This project will guarantee our city’s water supply for the next 50 years or more so I’d like to thank the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader for their commitments to fully fund Stage 2 of the pipeline.”
Cr Hill also raised the impacts of the high energy costs, rising insurance premiums and ways to create job opportunities and decrease the unemployment rate.
“The city’s economy has started to turn a corner but there’s no doubt we as a community suffer from high energy costs and soaring insurance premiums,” Cr Hill said.
“Any reforms that could be done by the Federal Government to ease the cost burden for local businesses and families would be welcome relief for our community.”
Cr Hill spoke at today’s session of the Senate Economics References Committee inquiry into the indicators of, and impact of, regional inequality in Australia.
