Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House that Queensland is becoming increasingly populated and less productive. Millions of hectares of good land are unproductive during the drought years, a Bradfield Scheme would produce enough water for the entire state for thousands of years. A new city in the Arcadia Valley region would be aligned with a Bradfield Scheme, and this would assist with decentralising and diversifying the population of Queensland and provide direct international access for produce, raw materials and trade to our Pacific neighbours and boost the Central Queensland tourism industry. Redirecting the Inland Rail from terminating at Acacia Ridge, to be relocated via Roma, Emerald and to Gladstone would directly connect our richest produce and raw materials with international markets and southern states and would fit hand in glove with a Bradfield Scheme, and a new city in or near Arcadia Valley.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to call on the Government and the Queensland Department of Economic Development to undertake a full Feasibility and Benefits Study of the Bradfield Scheme and include the additional cross benefits a realignment of the Inland Rail to Roma, Emerald and to Gladstone, and the establishment of an inland city near Arcadia Valley would bring to Queensland over the next century.