Government voice LNG concern

ALL levels of Gladstone government fear Gladstone’s social infrastructure is inadequate due to the coming liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry with many feeling it’s too little too late.

“I think the whole planning has fallen down because it’s so late happening,” the Queensland Independent Member for Gladstone Liz Cunningham said.

“Before Queensland Curtis LNG announced their Final Investment Decision when infrastructure issues were raised the response was ‘well there is no project yet,’ but we all knew at least one would go ahead, but everyone sat with their hands in their pockets.”

The Gladstone Regional Council believes the region is already feeling the effects of the construction of an LNG plant and reacted angrily last week about housing problems and the proponents’ lack of funding towards social infrastructure projects.

Gladstone Industry Leadership Group (GILG) chief Kurt Heidecker told The Observer Gladstone industries have a role to play to support non-essential social infrastructure.

“However, it is the responsibility of governments to work together to use the resource royalties and other industry charges to step up to the plate and provide the essential health services and major roads we need in the Gladstone region.”

The Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd agrees and told The Observer that he has grave concerns for Gladstone’s social infrastructure.

“The State Government is taking all the benefits from this new industry in the form of taxes and royalties, but there is precious little of it coming back to Gladstone,” Mr O’Dowd said.

“The ratepayers of Gladstone should not have had to foot the bill for the airport up-grade, but both the State and Federal governments thumbed their noses at Gladstone.”

Due to community discontent the Gladstone Regional Council is organising a forum for community discussion about LNG and other industrial development.

“The session will be independently facilitated to ensure all participants are afforded equal opportunity to have their say,” Cr Maxine Brushe told The  Observer.

“In order to maximise the opportunity for public participation, the decision has been taken to stage the forum in early February, 2011.”