Regional cities

Toowoomba is a major regional city with no practical rail connection. Everything gets to Toowoomba by road. A recent study noted with respect to a rail connection to Toowoomba that 'while important to freight movements of mining and agriculture to the Port of Brisbane, its public transport benefits are fairly minimal'.

Considering that the population is forecast to increase from 160,000 to 230,000 by 2031 this is perhaps one of the most shortsighted statements in transport planning and regional planning history.

A rail connection to Toowoomba from Brisbane not only brings growth to Toowoomba but also increases the viability of the entire corridor. In terms of regional development it is an essential missing piece in the puzzle with respect to growth management. This is especially so with increasing interest from the resources sector affecting housing prices in the city.

Mackay has recently rebuilt its airport. Like other resource towns such as Gladstone and Roma where there are large fl y in-fl y out (FIFO) workforces, airports are relatively new and are bustling hubs of activity. This does not necessarily translate into activity for the town however with workers heading straight for the mining camps from the airport bypassing towns and other centres.

Whilst both Bendigo and Toowoomba have airports, neither have the same pressure to expand like other Queensland resource towns. Skytrans is however about to commence daily flights from Toowoomba to Sydney from the middle of this year and with the Surat Basin close by there will be a need to upgrade the existing facility. Flights from Brisbane may be impractical given the short distance (even more reason for a fast rail connection) but it would consolidate its role as a regional hub.

Similarly, Bendigo is looking to upgrade its airport to take advantage of its growing reputation for a livable well connected regional centre.

Community aspiration is an interesting element of regional development, and I suspect reflects the length of time spent in a region and how much emotional attachment residents have to it. Toowoomba and Bendigo in comparison to Mackay have relatively stable and older population bases. There is considerable community pride and attachment to the city centre. So much so in Bendigo that substantial community donations enabled the City to purchase the old Masonic Hall – a neo classical sandstone building of considerable proportions, and convert it to the Capital Theater part of the growing arts precinct.

Mackay on the other hand has a relatively newer population that has come to the city on the back of the resources boom. Their relationship with the city centre is somewhat different and the emotional attachment and pride in the city centre as civic space seems to be much less. Growth in Mackay has been in outlying suburbs of Mt Pleasant, Blacks Beach, Ooralea etc where there are larger lots, 900m2 and above, that are relatively cheap.

The city centre is somewhat depopulated and contains a number of hotels that cater for the resource and other service sector employees. A recent public realm strategy in Mackay, to improve streetscapes, pedestrian areas and public spaces received a substantial criticism from some sections of the public wanting money invested instead in other items such as roads, rather than the city centre.

This is where civic leadership and governance is vitally important. Mackay has a strong vision for its future and is pursuing this vision vigorously. It has a long history of innovation, perhaps given its relative isolation, and continues to look beyond the resource boom to the creation of a sustainable region economy. Bendigo and Toowoomba similarly are pursuing strong public realm and character agendas in an attempt to define their cultural legacy and retain their strong identities reflected in the history of their built form. Strong civic leadership and vision in these cities is critical if these cities are to establish a role that looks beyond their region to a broader national role and identity. The Bendigo Bank for instance has its national headquarters in Bendigo. This is a major coup for the city and represents its aspirations as a regional city with a national focus.

Diversity is king. The best asset of any regional city is the diversity of its economy. Mackay is in the midst of a raging resources boom but has the presence of mind to not put all of its eggs in one basket. The resources boom, however, does little if anything to fund or financially assist with even the most basic of infrastructure needs for a growing region. Mining royalties inevitably fill state and federal coffers but that money is not ploughed back into the regions.

Local government in Queensland is seemingly fighting a lone hand on this front. Watch this space as there will be much debate in the future around this topic. Mackay is encouraging diversity in its economic base through its continued association with its agriculture industries in particular the sugar industry, which is highly protective of its cropping land. It also courts education, arts and tourism as part of a suite of economic initiatives. Bendigo's resource days are over and its regional economy is bolstered by its education offerings, tourism and lifestyle options. Again these offerings are inextricably linked to its good rail connections.