The mayors of Mount Isa and Tennant Creek are heading up a meeting in Mount Isa today to look at cross-border issues and projects including the inland rail.

Joyce McCulloch, Mayor of the Mount Isa City Council and Steven Edgington, president (mayor) of the Barkly Regional Council head up the Mount Isa Tennant Creek cross border commission which will examine a number of agenda items today.

The intent of the Commission is for Mount Isa and Barkly to join forces to bolster economic development and job creation in northern Australia.

Cr McCulloch said they were already seeing significant and substantial developments along the corridor between Mount Isa and Tennant Creek, including the Northern Gas Pipeline and further work on the proposed Mount Isa to Tennant Creek Rail Link.

“By strengthening communication and coordination between our respective councils and actively involving other levels of Government, I am confident the region’s economy will grow and diversify more quickly.” Mayor McCulloch said.

Mayor Edgington said he was looking forward to working collaboratively to develop the economy of the corridor, including expanding investments in energy, roads, rail, agriculture, water and tourism.

Agenda items include Glencore Operations, an update from Geosciences Australia on the Northern Australia Survey, the Mount Isa to Tennant Creek Rail Line Strategic Options Paper, the NGP, the Northern West Mineral Province, the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia, the status of the Barkly Highway, the North West Minerals Province Strategic Blueprint, tourism and the Tennant Creek to Townsville Economic Development Corridor – Program Design Options.

Last night the mayors took a tour of Mount Isa and Moondarra Lake ahead of the meeting before a meet and greet at the Red Earth.