Stadium support but no funds pledge yet
THE Opposition has pledged $42 million to increase tropical health research at James Cook University as part of its vision to transform northern Australia into an economic powerhouse.
Opposition Finance spokesman Andrew Robb is set to announce the funding boost at this morning's Townsville Bulletin business breakfast.
But the architect of the Coalition's grand plan to develop norther Australia will face pressure from the Townsville community to also commit funding to the $300 million superstadium and convention centre proposal in the CBD.
Mr Robb said increasing funding for the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine at JCU was part of the Coalition's plans to develop the North.
"It's building on one of our strengths in the area of tropical medicine and health research," he said.
The Coalition's plans to develop northern Australia also include building better sporting and community infrastructure in regional cities.
Mr Robb said he supported the superstadium but stopped short of commi- tting funds to the $300 million project.
"I have no doubt the stadium will go ahead but it's probably something that will happen in the medium term," he said.
"It is definitely on our radar and the type of project we would be interested in supporting to ensure people in northern Australia have the best sporting and community facilities to improve the lifestyle.
"When we get the economy on an even keel and have some of those major (mining) projects (in the northwest minerals province) going ahead then the stadium will become a reality."
The $300 million super- stadium and convention centre project would create 700 jobs and be the only world-class sporting facility in northern Australia.
An incoming Coalition government would only have to find $150 million over four years to fund half the project in conjunction with the State Government.
During the first year of the project the Federal Government would only have to spend $15 million before putting up $35 million in the second year and two $50 million commitments in the final two years of the project.
AEC Group economist Thor Lyster said the superstadium project would create employment in sectors hammered by the downturn in mining.
"Building the super- stadium would employ construction workers, engineers and projects managers, all of which have suffered because of the decrease in construction associated with the slowdown in the mining and resources sector," he said.
"The stadium is a great project to rebalance Townsville's economy and create jobs that have been lost because of the end of the mining boom."
Mr Lyster said federal politicians were focused on the business case for the use of the superstadium.
"It would be up to the State Government (through Stadiums Queensland) to manage any new facility and they will have to spend $100 million anyway to redevelop 1300 SMILES Stadium, so the financial case starts making a lot of sense when you factor that into the equation," he said.
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2013/08/22/387739_news.html
