Regional Development Australia Townsville and NWQ

14/06/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗹𝗳 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀.

Partnering with 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆, we are continuing the 2026 State of the Region Roadshow across North West Queensland visiting Cloncurry Shire Council, Carpentaria Shire Council, Burke Shire Council, Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council and Mornington Shire Council.

There will be two free community sessions, one in Cloncurry and one in Normanton providing an opportunity to hear the latest economic, workforce and industry insights shaping our region, while connecting with local leaders and a panel of stakeholders to discuss future opportunities and challenges.

𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘆
Monday 15 June
10:30am – 12noon
Cloncurry Community Precinct
Register to attend - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1990923698376?aff=oddtdtcreator

𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻
Tuesday 16 June
11:00am – 12noon
Carpentaria Shire Council Boardroom
Register to attend - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1990838254812?aff=oddtdtcreator

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:
- Workforce and skills
- Projects and initiatives
- Industry and economic trends
- Regional opportunities and growth

Community members can still register to attend - Whether you're a business owner, community leader, industry representative or resident, these sessions are an opportunity to hear independent regional insights, ask questions and be part of the conversation about the future of North West Queensland.



MITEZ, NBN Australia, Southern Gulf NRM, Gulf Savannah Development, North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils Queensland Government

12/06/2026

🌟 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

Are you passionate about regional development and making a positive impact across North and North West Queensland?

We are looking for an experienced Project Coordinator to join our team in Townsville.

This is an exciting opportunity to work across a diverse range of projects that support economic development, workforce initiatives, stakeholder engagement and regional growth. You'll work closely with industry, government and community partners while helping deliver programs that create opportunities for our region.

We're looking for someone who is organised, proactive, enjoys working with people and can support the successful delivery of projects and events across our region.

If you're seeking a role where no two days are the same and where your work contributes to the future of regional Queensland, we'd love to hear from you.

📍 Townsville-based
📅 Applications now open

For more information and to apply, visit the link below.
https://www.jobsnorthqueensland.com.au/industry/program-project-management/job/204537/project-coordinator

11/06/2026

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻

We were pleased to hear about the record funding commitment for the eastern section of CopperString and to see construction progressing, with the recent milestone in Hughenden marking the next stage of this critical project.

It is also encouraging to see recognition of the need for enabling infrastructure to support the future delivery of the western link. Ensuring the region is ready for this next phase will be essential to unlocking the full benefits of CopperString and delivering this transformative piece of infrastructure for North and North West Queensland.

11/06/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁

With major projects underway, workforce shortages continuing across industries, and billions of dollars of investment planned across regional Queensland, the decisions we make today will help shape our communities for years to come.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘆.

Together with Regional Economic Advisory, we'll be exploring the economic, workforce and investment trends influencing the future of the North West — and hearing local perspectives from organisations working across infrastructure, regional development, natural resource management, connectivity and local government.

A big thank you to our panel representatives from:
- MITEZ
- Gulf Savannah Development
- North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils
- Southern Gulf NRM
- 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
- NBN Australia

These conversations are about more than data and forecasts.

They're about understanding where our region is heading, what opportunities are emerging, and how communities like Cloncurry can help shape the future.

📍 Cloncurry Community Precinct
📅 Monday 15 June
🕥 10:30am

Register now - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1990923698376?aff=oddtdtcreator

We look forward to seeing you there.

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Cloncurry Shire Council
Cloncurry Commerce
Experience Cloncurry
Experience Outback Queensland, Australia

10/06/2026

Congratulations to the Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council on securing funding for the Heart of Doomadgee project.

We thank our colleagues at Regional Development Australia Tropical North for their leadership and collaboration through the Northern RDA Alliance, and acknowledge the collective efforts of all partners who contributed to this successful outcome.

This achievement demonstrates the value of working together to support community-led economic development and create lasting opportunities across Northern Australia.

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗲'𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

Congratulations to Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council on securing $2.5 million through the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program (rPPP) for the Heart of Doomadgee project.

The funding will support planning and partnership development to help revitalise the local and regional economy through new opportunities in tourism, cultural tourism and the arts, while progressing an investment-ready CBD precinct.

We acknowledge the work of our Northern RDA Alliance (NRDAA) colleagues at Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland (RDA Townsville and NWQ), who provided support during the application process.

Projects like Heart of Doomadgee demonstrate the value of collaboration, long-term planning and building on local strengths to create new opportunities for regional communities.

Well done to everyone involved.



📸 Photo Credit: Domadgee Aboriginal Shire Council

09/06/2026

Thank you to ABC North West Queensland for highlighting the important conversations taking place through our 2026 State of the Region Roadshow. Mount Isa’s FREE event is on this afternoon- for more information visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/2026-state-of-the-region-roadshow-mount-isa-insights-session-tickets-1990540074948

It was a great opportunity for our CEO, Dr Lisa McDonald, to discuss both the challenges and opportunities facing North West Queensland. We appreciate ABC's ongoing support in sharing the voices and priorities of our region.

Listen to the interview here - https://www.rdanwq.org.au/2026-state-of-region/

This is the question ⁉️ being put to community leaders, businesses and industry representatives in Mount Isa today, as the 2026 State of the Region Roadshow looks at the future of the region.

Regional Development Australia Townsville and NWQ CEO Dr Lisa McDonald said the region’s “big three” challenges are housing, enabling infrastructure and skilled workforce shortages.

“Skilled workforce 👷‍♂️ that is the big one that we hear again and again,” she said.

Dr McDonald said there are also major opportunities ahead, particularly around critical minerals, new projects, renewables and CopperString.

“Mount Isa has such a strong industrial base and contributes so much towards our national sovereign capability,” she said.

📍 Mount Isa Civic Centre – The Stack
📅 Wednesday 10 June, 2026
⏰ 4:30pm arrival for 5:00pm start

What do you think? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS 👇

📻 Listen to ABC North West QLD: https://ab.co/3mRJWAn
📝 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here by selecting ABC North West Queensland: https://ab.co/3LuMEr3

08/06/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 — 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁.

Last week, our CEO Dr Lisa McDonald and Acting Chair, Maria James joined Regional Development Australia Chairs and CEOs from across Queensland in Brisbane for a series of discussions focused on the future of regional and rural Queensland.

The visit included the quarterly RDA Queensland Network meeting and valuable discussions with Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development Dale Last - Member for Burdekin, and Queensland’s first Special Commissioner for Regional and Rural Queensland, Andrew Cripps QLD.

The discussions reinforced a message that resonates strongly across our region: Queensland's future prosperity is intrinsically linked to the success of its regional communities.

From workforce development and infrastructure investment to housing, industry growth and liveability, many of the opportunities shaping the state's future are being driven from regional Queensland.

A particular focus was the importance of genuine collaboration between Queensland’s network of RDAs and the Queensland government. Delivering meaningful outcomes for regional communities requires all levels working together with a shared understanding of local opportunities and challenges.

It was also great to connect with familiar regional leaders, including former RDA Townsville and North West Queensland CEO and now Member for Hinchinbrook, Wayde Chiesa MPiesa, and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli MP.

Regional Queensland contributes significantly to the state's economy, workforce and future growth. Ensuring regional voices are heard, understood and represented in decision-making remains critical to achieving sustainable outcomes for communities across Queensland.

08/06/2026

This Wednesday, the State of the Region Roadshow is coming to Mount Isa.

Join Dr Lisa McDonald and Matt Kelly for independent insights into the major projects, workforce trends, investment activity and opportunities shaping the future of Mount Isa and the North West.

Featuring guest speakers, a regional panel discussion and audience Q&A.

📍 The Stack, Mount Isa Civic Centre
📅 Wednesday 10 June
🕔 From 5pm

Free public event. Registrations essential.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1990540074948?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/06/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Our CEO, Dr Lisa McDonald, recently joined regional leaders in Gladstone to discuss the opportunities, challenges and priorities shaping the future of regional Queensland.

The meeting provided an opportunity for Regional Development Australia committees to discuss shared priorities, emerging opportunities and the challenges shaping the future of regional Queensland.

Conversations focused on workforce development, infrastructure, industry growth, energy transition and the importance of strong regional collaboration.

A highlight of the visit was a tour of the Port of Gladstone, including a firsthand look at wind turbine blades ready for transport to renewable energy projects across Queensland.

It was a powerful reminder of the scale of investment underway and the significant opportunities these projects present for regional communities, businesses and workers.

Regional Queensland is playing an increasingly important role in Australia's economic future and collaboration between regions will be critical to ensuring we maximise the benefits of major projects, investment and workforce growth.

Thank you to our RDA colleagues for the valuable discussions and shared commitment to supporting strong, sustainable regional development.

📸 1. Pictured clockwise from Left, Stephen Smith CEO of Regional Development Australia - Central and Western Queensland , Robert Cocco CEO of Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays and Lainie P**n, Regional Development Australia Tropical North

📸 2. Wind turbine blades at Port of Gladstone ready to be transported west

📸 3. Port of Gladstone



Gladstone Regional Council