The Surat Basin Future Directions Statement commits the Government to work with local government and industry to produce comprehensive plans which manage future growth in the region.
The statement includes a co-ordinated Workforce Development Plan that will address skills and labour needs for the region by December 2010.
“The emergence of the $40 billion LNG Industry in the Surat will bring wealth for Queensland and we want to ensure that the local communities in the region benefit from this growth,” said Ms Bligh.
“An important part of our better growth management strategy is to create opportunity in the regions to move more of our population growth outside the South East Queensland corner.”
Article continues below…New roads funding will also be allocated as part of the scheme, including $1 million to improve intersections and $3.3 million for widening and rehabilitation.
Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Michael Roche said that companies with interest in the Surat Basin were “long-time supporters of enhanced state Government planning mechanisms for the region, which is set to become home to a huge array of new and expanded minerals and energy products.”
