I’m trying to hit a six for jobs, but the Member for Mackay can’t even step up to the crease and have a go
A sports project which would provide the city with an immediate 180 jobs in construction, tourism and hospitality as well as an ongoing profile as a sporting tourism destination is under threat due to a lack of action from the State Labor Government and the Labor Member for Mackay.
I have championed The Great Barrier Reef Arena project at Harrup Park since it was first brought to my attention three years ago, and Federal funding of $10 million has been available since March 2019.
Harrup Park Country Club was ready to start building their $24 million sporting stadium, they need funding to be matched by the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
It’s all talk, and not much of that to be honest, and no action from the Member for Mackay and her puppet masters in the Palaszczuk Labor Government when it comes to putting up the funding for the Great Barrier Reef Arena & Events Precinct.
And while this Mackay project continues to be ignored, $14 million goes to Jackie Trad’s electorate in Brisbane to build a ballet school.
Harrup Park Country Club will get development approval from council any day now, and this sports arena, which will create a minimum 180 jobs in construction, tourism and hospitality, will be shovel ready.
The management of Harrup Park Country Club came to me with their ‘field of dreams’ vision about three years ago, and while I doubt the Member for Mackay has seen the classic movie, I’d like to remind her of its catch-cry – ‘If you build it, they will come’.
‘Building it’ will provide 90 construction jobs, and ‘when they come’ a bare minimum of 90 ongoing jobs in tourism and hospitality will be supported.
The flow-on effects from headline events held at a state-of-the-art sports facility here in our city will be huge as our accommodation houses, restaurants and shopping centres, not to mention other tourism attractions are filled with people.
It’s the kind of project the city needs right now as we rebuild our economy following the coronavirus shutdown.
I’m trying to hit a six for Mackay jobs, but the Member for Mackay can’t even step up to the crease and have a go.
The Member for Mackay is now the Assistant Treasurer.
With that increased level of influence, you would hope she could see her way clear to speak up for her city and ensure we get our fair share.
Or will she sit meekly by and say nothing like she did when former deputy premier Jackie Trad got a $14 million boost for a ballet school to help save her seat from the Greens?
The people of Mackay, who love their sport, are being taken for granted.
And I fear what we’re seeing here is another case of Mackay missing out again.
TIMELINE
OCTOBER 19, 2018: Harrup Park invited to submit a full business case for $10m funding under the Morrison Liberal National Government’s Regional Growth Fund
MARCH 7, 2019: Harrup Park Country Club receives final approval for $10 million in funding from the Morrison Liberal National Government, with $10 million in matching funding required for the project to go ahead
JUNE 2019: Labor fails to fund the project in their state budget
JUNE 2020: There is still no commitment to fund this significant sporting infrastructure project from the Palaszczuk Labor Government and the Member for Mackay.