The second round of Government Regional Community Forums will be held next week, bringing together community members and Government representatives to discuss opportunities to drive future jobs and growth across the State.
The Community Forum for Central Queensland at Gladstone is one of seven being held.
It will be chaired by Member for Gladstone and Assistant Minister for Treasury, Glenn Butcher.
Mr Butcher said the forums ensured the community had a powerful voice to talk about local strengths, challenges and priorities.
“Queensland is a vast, unique State and no two regions are the same, but it was apparent from the first round of forums last October that there were consistent themes being raised locally, which we’ve now made strategic priorities for discussion,” Mr Butcher said.
“Discussions will centre on skills and training, drought and water security, support for small business, emerging industries, tourism, including Indigenous tourism, and access to Government services.”
Mr Butcher said discussion at the first Central Queensland Regional Forum in October 2019 helped shape a local action plan for the region to improve skills, training and youth development; leverage tourism and liveability to drive migration to the region, and improve community wellbeing, including mental health.
“Forum members will work with the Queensland Government’s Office for Rural and Regional Queensland to consider what outcomes are most important to the local community and to develop local action plans,” he said.
A third round of forums are to be be held across rural and regional locations including the Wide Bay, Burnett, Fraser Coast region in May.
