Minute With The Mayor: Mayor Ramon Jayo

At time of publication: Unfortunately, due to the severe weather currently impacting the Hinchinbrook district, Mayor Ramon Jayo has remained in the Shire and was unable to travel to Canberra as planned. He had been scheduled to join the Townsville Enterprise delegation and has asked counterparts to ensure Hinchinbrook’s priorities are clearly represented in every meeting. There will be further opportunities for direct advocacy once conditions stabilise.

The Mayor had been due to attend Canberra alongside Townsville Enterprise and neighbouring councils including Townsville, Burdekin, Charters Towers and Palm Island for 17 meetings with Ministers, advisors and federal agencies.

Our focus is simple and urgent: unlocking housing, unlocking sustainable fuel opportunities, unlocking better health services, and unlocking the enabling infrastructure that lets our community and economy grow with confidence.

We are bringing Hinchinbrook’s priorities to the national level because federal decisions set the funding programs, policy settings and timelines that determine what gets built and when.

At the same time, some of our projects are advancing through state‑level discussions to align approvals, technical standards and co‑funding. Doing both in parallel means we can move quickly when programs open and keep delivery on track.

Expanding accommodation capacity helps do exactly that by attracting investment, supporting local operators, and creating new roles in hospitality, guiding, tours and small business.

We are seeking $4 million to establish the Hinchinbrook Recycling Waste Facility at Warrens Hill. This modern recycling centre will create five full‑time jobs, improve waste separation, increase resource recovery and extend the life of our landfill by diverting recyclable materials. It is a practical upgrade that reduces long‑term costs for ratepayers and supports a cleaner, more resilient Shire.

Health is another immediate priority. We are advocating for $10 million to upgrade and expand the emergency department at Ingham Hospital. A fit‑for‑purpose emergency department improves timely care for local families and strengthens the wider regional health system. The health sector is one of our largest employers and purchasers of goods and services, and a major driver of skilled migration.

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service operates 21 facilities across the broader region; investing in Ingham’s emergency department supports that network’s long‑term plan for high‑quality care and delivers strong economic and social returns.

We are also positioning Hinchinbrook within the emerging sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel supply chain.

As one of Australia’s leading sugarcane regions, we can contribute feedstock and logistics to processing, refining and export. With clear national policy settings, private investment follows — creating skilled jobs, value‑adding to agriculture and strengthening Australia’s fuel resilience. This is a strategic, future‑focused opportunity we are elevating in Canberra while working with state counterparts on approvals and industry development pathways.

Many residents will rightly ask, “What about projects like the Forrest Beach boat ramp?”

We agree those local amenities matter, and we continue to progress planning and advocacy so they are ready when the right funding programs open.

The priorities we are advancing today meet four tests on a national stage:
• they enable housing and jobs now
• they deliver strong economic and social returns
• they protect essential services
• and they are ready, aligned and co‑fundable right now.

Face‑to‑face conversations matter because they let us present local evidence directly, answer detailed questions in real time, align timelines and program settings, and build the trust and accountability that lead to commitments.

Being in the room moves projects from discussion to delivery.

Read more in Townsville Enterprise’s Unlock the North plan: www.townsvilleenterprise.com.au/advocacy/unlock-the-north/

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