NORTH Queensland is pushing to become its own economic zone to ensure it snares the lion's share of the $60 billion in wealth generated annually in the region.

Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton will unite north of the Tropic of Capricorn under a new economic co-operation plan being considered by state and federal governments.

Experts say the plan is not a push for autonomy, or any move to make north Queensland a separate state.



View Two Queenslands in a larger map

But they say the region is fed up with seeing few of the benefits of the wealth generated in the engine room of the north, which instead are redirected to the state's population-heavy southeast.

Mayors, business leaders and officials from the four regions are leading the push, and met with Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean earlier this month to discuss the proposal.

Under the plan, the four regions would lobby governments and foreign investors as a bloc, demanding more big-ticket investment in transport, roads, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and energy.

Should North Queensland become its own economic zone? Have your say in the comments section below.

Local Government Association of Queensland president Paul Bell (pictured) said the four regions would also work as one to cut red tape

"It will collectively exert a far greater amount of political power and influence on Brisbane and Canberra," Mr Bell said. "They will be able to deal with half of Queensland as one group and in one hit.

"We will be getting the strengths of the region to full potential, rather than waiting for what falls off the back of a truck out of Brisbane."

Latest figures show north Queensland is an economic powerhouse of mining, agriculture, education and tourism where Rockhampton (about $12 billion), Mackay (about $17 billion), Townsville and Mount Isa (about $19 billion) and Cairns ($12 billion) generate around $60 billion a year in Gross Regional Product.

News of the move comes as Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan visits Townsville today to spruik the benefits of the region.



"Townsville is a picture of exactly the kind of diverse, dynamic regional economy that will power Australia's passage through the years ahead," Mr Swan will say in a speech to the Chamber of Commerce.

"A city like Townsville really is in the front row when it comes to Asia's remarkable transformation."

The plan for a North Queensland economic zone has been backed by local MPs.

Federal MP Bob Katter said he supported going the next step to autonomy.

"Up north contains all the state's iron ore, base metals and water," the Member for Kennedy said.

"And yet we have no control over our destiny.

"We sit up there, watch Campbell Newman take all our money to build tunnels, whirligigs, and pleasure-domes, and shake our heads."

Regional Development Australia (Mackay Whitsunday) chief Nicole Duguid said the boom resources sector growth, turning over $17 billion a year for the Mackay region alone, proved the need for a new vision.

"It is really about partnerships, a way forward to work with our neighbours, and how to avoid duplication in services and products," Ms Duguid said.

Originally published as North Queensland wants to go it alone