Category Archives: North Queensland

Is Townsville or Cairns the capital of North Qld?

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Gene Tunny

There is an amusing debate occurring in North Queensland between Cairns economist Bill Cummings and Townsville economist Colin Dwyer over whether Cairns or Townsville has the larger population, as reported in the Townsville Bulletin on Friday. While there are more … Continue reading →

Posted in North Queensland, Population, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Temporary setback for Qld resources sector

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Reports today (Mine shutdown a ‘kick in the guts’) about the closure of BMA’s Norwich Park coal mine in Dysart, Central Queensland clearly refute recent claims the mining sector is undergoing an out-of-control expansion. As reported on ABC News (Coal … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Mining, North Queensland | 1 Comment

Annual cap on mining approvals undesirable and impractical

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Gene Tunny

In the Cairns Post today, in an article with the over-the-top title of People desert Cairns in droves, there is reference to the South of the Embley mining project which is being held up by the need to secure environmental … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining, North Queensland, VET | 1 Comment

Building activity improving, but will remain “fairly subdued” in many regions

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Master Builders yesterday released its regional snapshots from its quarterly survey of industry conditions. The following conditions are expected over the March quarter: “fairly subdued” in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Far North, North Queensland, Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay Burnett … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, North Queensland | Leave a comment

Townsville CC knocks back Nuns’ plans to rebuild convent

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Gene Tunny

An article in yesterday’s Townsville Bulletin (Fire danger forces Strand nuns out) confirmed the over-zealous stance of the Townsville City Council on heritage, which I’ve noted in a previous post. The Bulletin reports: NUNS have had to leave a 100-year-old … Continue reading →

Posted in North Queensland, Townsville | 1 Comment

FIFO Coordinator will be very busy

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Last week Australia’s first FIFO (i.e. fly-in, fly-out) Coordinator was appointed in Cairns, with the task of matching locals to FIFO job opportunities in the resources sector (FIFO Coordinator based in Cairns). Based on the ongoing sluggishness in the Far … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Mining, North Queensland | Leave a comment

Surge in residential lot development approvals in Townsville, small recovery in Cairns

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Back in the 1980s, there was concern in the Townsville community about how Cairns, then experiencing rapid growth, would over-take Townsville to become the so-called capital of North Queensland. Obviously, that is no longer a possibility as Townsville appears to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Housing, North Queensland, Townsville | 2 Comments

Far North economy gradually improving, but Gold Coast still weak

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The latest ABS regional labour force data released yesterday show different trends for two of the Queensland regions hardest hit by the higher Australia dollar. While the Far North’s economy is gradually improving, the Gold Coast’s economy remains weak. Charts … Continue reading →

Posted in Gold Coast, Labour market, North Queensland | 1 Comment

Torres Strait autonomy very unlikely

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Gene Tunny

I’m surprised our political leaders haven’t firmly rejected calls for Torres Strait autonomy (see PM looks at Torres Strait islands’ autonomy), given that creating a new Territory, a new parliament and more politicians anywhere in Australia would be highly unpopular. … Continue reading →

Posted in North Queensland | Leave a comment

Xstrata rejects CopperString renewable energy pipe dream

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The CopperString renewable energy corridor, from Townsville to Mt Isa, always appeared to be a pipe dream, with fantastic expectations about the reliability of renewable energy generators (wind farms and solar & geothermal power stations). The big problem with renewable … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, North Queensland, Townsville | 1 Comment