: News Article

Business advice for Cairns City Council

21/12/2003

NQ Water has offered to give Cairns City Council a lesson in how to reach its long term infrastructure goals.

It follows an outburst by the Cairns Mayor at a recent State Government pledge to fund two-thirds of the Ross River Dam upgrade.

NQ Water Chairman, Ian Hamilton, said the announcement followed a prolonged negotiation and lobbying effort with a number of agencies.

"My advice to Cairns City Council is to work cooperatively with the State Government to achieve its goals to fund infrastructure for the far-north," Mr Hamilton said.

"It is our experience that if you do your homework and present a reasoned and well thought out case, you'll receive a good hearing. Complaining about what someone else has is simply churlish and is not likely to receive a sympathetic ear."

Mr Hamilton advised the Cairns City Council that there were inaccuracies in its statement.

"Firstly, NQ Water is a local government in its own right, operating under the Local Government Act, independent of the Townsville and Thuringowa City Councils," he said.

"Secondly, we have been audited and found to comply completely with National Competition Policy reforms.

"Thirdly, the work is not about increasing capacity as is suggested, but about upgrading critical infrastructure to current international standards. It is not as if we had a choice in the matter.

"Lastly, the State Government designed and constructed Ross River Dam and we are very glad the state recognised its responsibilities when it came to the upgrade.

"Saying that, we have worked very hard over the past six months since the dam upgrade report was released to research and present our case.

"Cairns City Council would do well to follow our lead as an effective way to do business with the State Government."

Contact Details
Ian Hamilton: 0418 777 284.
Media Liaison Robert Dark: 0417 623 156.

© 2004 NQ Water