First Stop Rocky

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark”. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni is credited for this quote, many may know him only by his first name, one if not the greatest artist of the 16th century. What aims have been set for Central Queensland. More mines, gas pipelines, levy banks; are we setting our aim high enough? Bundaberg’s response to vision for Queensland 2043 includes a bullet train to Brisbane, people living in Bundaberg commuting to Brisbane within an hour for work. Pretty impressive for a city less than 10 months ago was devastated by flood. We can’t afford it, so why even bother discussing it. “We cannot change anything, if we cannot change our thinking; we are our thoughts”. The 30 year vision for Queensland includes half of the state’s population to be living outside the south east corner – ‘achieve regionalisation’. For this to occur massive investments in infrastructure will need to be made not just to cater for this population of 3.9 million (Queensland 2043 forecast is 7.8M) but to attract it. Is Bundaberg’s aim pie in the sky or just high?
Earlier columns I wrote of a bullet train between Gladstone and Rockhampton as well as west to Uluru. Chinese middle class is rapidly growing, would 2 iconic symbols of Australia (Great Barrier Reef being the other) joined by a bullet train be the lure to attract a healthy share of this tourist market; pie in the sky or just high?
The CQ NRL bid when first made was arguably viewed by most as pie in the sky, now with a professional, persistent and well resourced strategy is it viewed as aiming high. If we change our thinking could an A-League football team be based in Rockhampton by 2018?
Let’s hear of more high aims for Central Queensland, Rockhampton Region and Livingstone Shire. If we fall short by 10-20% isn’t that better than not having tried at all. Another government election is to be held soon, be interesting to hear the Livingstone Shire Council candidate’s aims. I hope there are some ‘high’ ones and a preparedness to change our thinking.