Billion dollar projects planned
Here in our Central Queensland
Plenty of jobs going about
They’ll even fly you in and fly you out
Export income is the goal
All we got to do is dig more holes
We’re told its all good news
Let’s hear your view
Is there enough infrastructure about
Does the only solution have to be fly in fly out?
If there is to be a boom
Will our kids benefit from it to???
Aspire CQ
Now’s the time to get our due
Aspire CQ
Enough of most of it going to SEQ
Aspire CQ
C’mon lets hear your view
Aspire CQ
C’mon Canberra, you can take but how about giving it too
Long term benefits that’s got to be the goal
Not just been left with lots of holes
Lets all benefit from the boom
And remain sustainable after it too
Vibrant and innovative is what we are
Now’s the opportunity for CQ to star
(chorus)
Work, live, play
Lets’ give them no reason to fly away
Central Queensland has it all
We have to go beyond thinking small
Stop treating us as just being part of the herd
Now’s the time that our aspirations are heard
(chorus)
It’s our CQ; we’re entitled to a view
No more words and empty promises
We’re tired of being Doubting Thomases
Actions are what are needed
One’s that demonstrate our community concerns are heeded.
(chorus)
I’m no song writer, but several months ago I decided to try and write a
jingle to help make aspirations for CQ a day to day issue for
governments to be faced with. However like my letters to the editor, and
some may think this column, the lyrics became too long. I decided to
share these lyrics as the relevance of them is arguably more relevant
now then several months ago. It seems this resource boom is like a snow
ball rolling down a hill. Growing and increasing in size – its momentum
apparently unstoppable. I’m for development. I want to see the
Rockhampton region gain long term benefits from this resource boom. For
too long we’ve largely missed out and become like a gap in the map. Yet
there appears to be more issues than real long term benefits so far. No
doubt the national economy is benefitting, ‘export income is the goal’
but what has Rockhampton region seen from it. One of the current major
issues is water quality; drinking, harbour and ground water. So is this
development ‘all good news’.
This is not a pollie bashing column. I have no doubt our politicians
have fought very hard to get what they have got. In our politically
diminishing region they have to. One vote, one value encourages more
attention goes to where the most voters are. So we need to be more vocal
in helping our politicians push the urgent need for more infrastructure
and that our concerns for sustainable, community acceptable development
are heeded. There is noise from both sides about the benefits to be
delivered (but not when) and calls for no development. At the moment it
seems the Rockhampton region is sitting on its hands not sure what to
put its’ hand up for, while the rest of CQ powers on, for better or
otherwise. Without development, aspirations for a high school in
Gracemere, a better southern entrance into Rockhampton, development of
the Yeppoon foreshore, etc., are more difficult to achieve. Development
and the population growth that comes with it will improve our political
clout. Clout needed to get more infrastructure. Unfortunately the
Rockhampton Chamber of Commerce with its mission of promoting
sustainable and community acceptable development in Central Queensland
no longer exists. I think its time for a non-political, 100% community
driven organisation was formed to take on this mission and help our
politicians get a better deal for us. Champion our aspirations and our
concerns. What do you think? Would you join a group passionate,
pro-active, and protective in promoting sustainable, community
acceptable development in Rockhampton and Central Queensland?
I would love to hear your thoughts and aspirations for CQ. Even if you think the lyrics are a chance of becoming a song.