Central Highlands Regional Council Supports CQ NRL

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CENTRAL Highlands Regional Council is getting behind Central Queensland’s push to join the NRL competition, encouraging its ratepayers and residents to sign a petition.

From today, the petition for a CQ-based NRL team will be on public display at all of Council’s offices - in Blackwater, Capella, Duaringa, Rolleston and Springsure, as well as Council’s administrative headquarters at 65 Egerton Street, Emerald.

“In May, we hosted the inaugural Regional Launch for the CQ NRL Bid, we then promoted the petition at our local shows, so this is the next step,” said Central Highlands Regional Council mayor Peter Maguire, whose deputy, Paul Bell, is the father of former Origin player Steve and a member of the CQ NRL Bid Team.

“I would encourage our ratepayers and residents to sign the petition to show their support for a CQ-based NRL team. It’s a huge undertaking by the bid team but after we hosted that launch in May, and the more I speak with local people, I believe a future NRL team in CQ is a strong possibility.”

The Bid Team has welcomed Council’s willingness to embrace the petition, initiated by The Morning Bulletin in Rockhampton and since published by other regional newspapers, including the Central Queensland News, under the APN News Media banner.

“From the coalfields to the cotton fields and further afield, they love their rugby league on the Central Highlands. We’re absolutely delighted the Council is supporting us in our endeavours,” said project co-ordinator Jason Costigan, who watched Cr Maguire sign the petition in Emerald today.

The area served by Central Highlands Regional Council has produced some quality league players, most notably former Origin representatives Bell, Alan McIndoe (Emerald) and PJ Marsh (Blackwater).

South Sydney-bound Broncos prop Dave Taylor also hails from Blackwater while up-and-coming Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt, the inaugural Toyota Cup player of the year, is from nearby Dingo.

Source: http://www.cqnrlbid.com.au/2009/08/central-highlands-regional-council-supports-cq-nrl-bid/#more-84