The LNP has offered in-principle support for a range of projects crucial to Bowen ahead of the state election later this year.
Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie was in town earlier this month to outline the party’s stance on several projects at the Bowen Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting.
Issues included Bowen Hospital, the jetty, harbour redevelopment, Whitsunday Shores estate, Abbott Point industrial estate and the Bowen Water Scheme project from Home Hill to Bowen.
These were all flagged by the LNP for action and given the party's in-principle support should it be returned to office at this year's state election.
Mr Bleijie said the party would focus on the town's housing crisis, crime, the cost of living, interest rates, grocery costs, fuel, and the costs of doing business.
"Absolutely, we support the jetty upgrade, and we will put pressure on the Government to get the $50 million promised" for that upgrade, though Mr Bleijie said it was still unclear whether that money was truly available.
He also backed a planned marina upgrade for the town, which he said was being delayed by Transport and Main Roads department, denying the town a facility "which will do us proud".
Mr Bleijie said the LNP was supportive of the proposed Home Hill to Bowen water scheme, a project he said could open up another 55,000ha of land to agriculture.
"We absolutely support it; water is life. It is an absolute necessity." However, he said the LNP had not seen the business case for the project.
Mr Bleijiie said the Whitsunday Paradise estate development, in court action going back to 2022, also needed certainty. He said the project was crucial to retaining people in the area and he claimed that a number of teachers had refused jobs in the town because of the lack of suitable accommodation.
He added that services for the planned estate were a subject of dispute and could be blamed on lack of communication between the State Government and councils leading to cost blowouts, and he said the question of a new funding agreement for local government "needs to be addressed".
During the Chamber of Commerce meeting, Mr Bleijiie was asked a question about the state LNP's "revolving door" of leaders in recent years, to which he answered he would be proud to go to this year's poll with David Crisafulli as leader after the LNP's gains in the by-elections.
Mr Bleijie said voters were angered by a State Government that he said was no longer listening to them. "Being a leader is listening, and we are listening," he said.
"It is an election I believe will be the most important in the history of the state.
"The mood is changing in Queensland," he said. "We need 13 seats to win."
State LNP Opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie (right) with (from left) Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor-elect Ry Collins, Bowen Chamber of Commerce chairman Bruce Hedditch, and state member for Burdekin, Dale Last.
