Mayor Joins Townsville Enterprise Board

Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto has stepped into a new role as a discretionary Director on the Townsville Enterprise Board, using the position to further strengthen Townsville’s strategic direction as the region’s economic, tourism and events leader.

Councillor Dametto will attend his first Board meeting on Friday 13 March.

The appointment represents an important opportunity to bring clearer civic leadership into the regional economic agenda, ensuring that industry and local government move forward with shared purpose as Townsville North Queensland enters a defining decade of growth and investment.

Cr Dametto said he was pleased to join the Board and looked forward to using the platform to advance priorities for Townsville and the wider North Queensland region.

“As a passionate North Queenslander who grew up in Ingham, worked in the mining industry, owned a Townsville tourism business, represented Hinchinbrook as a State Member of Parliament, and now Mayor, I am deeply committed to growing our region as an economic powerhouse of the 21st century,” Cr Dametto said.

“For more than 30 years, Townsville Enterprise has contributed to political advocacy, investment attraction, regional development and tourism marketing on behalf of the North.

“More recently, those responsibilities have been expanded through partnership agreements with Townsville City Council to fund the region’s largest-ever tourism campaign as well as delivering major events to the city as part of the Townsville Events Strategy 2024-27.

“The priorities of Council, as well as the smaller shires of Hinchinbrook, Burdekin, Charters Towers and Palm Island, are intrinsically linked and our collaboration is crucial.

“In my new role as a discretionary Director of the Board, I look forward to contributing to the next chapter.

Townsville Enterprise Chairman Kevin Gill welcomed Cr Dametto’s appointment, saying it reflected the importance of strong and united leadership at a time of significant regional opportunity.

“This appointment reinforces the critical importance of alignment between civic leadership and industry as we advocate for investment, infrastructure and long-term economic growth,” Mr Gill said.

“Townsville Enterprise was founded as a unique model that brings together business and local government as one politically powerful voice.

“For more than three decades this unity has made the difference in the historic wins for our region, including the success of advocacy campaigns to secure the Queensland Country Bank stadium, open the Galilee Basin, “Keep our Copper”, and locking in funding for the Great Barrier Aquarium.

“Townsville Enterprise exists to represent the collective voice of our region’s business, tourism, and industry sectors.

“Having Townsville’s Mayor as a discretionary Board Director strengthens that voice and ensures we are working in lockstep to deliver outcomes for the community.”